The Acceptance of the “Ryōgan-Kechimyaku” by Kenjuin Nichikan

Abstract

Kenjuin Nichikan was the twenty six chief priest of the Taiseki-ji temple and is highly renowned in the history of the Nichiren sect as the organizer of Taiseki-ji ideology. Nichikan’s philosophy is based on the Ryōgan-Kechimyaku that Nichiren is said to have written. According to this, it is said that the Lotus Sūtra was only profitable for people as long as the Buddha lived. It is Nichiren who is considered to save people after Buddha’s death. With the development of this idea, there came the Nichiren Honbutsu ron, the idea that Nichiren himself is the Honzon.