Criticism of Kozoin Nisshin’s 広蔵院日辰 Doctrine by Kenjuin Nichikan 堅樹院日寛

Abstract

Kenjuin Nichikan 堅樹院日寛 was the 26th chief priest of the Taisekiji 大石寺 and is famous in the history of Nichiren doctrine as a master who systematized Taisekiji doctrine. One of Nichikan’s doctrines insists that it is not necessary to read the whole Hoke-kyō (Lotus Sūtra), saying that ascetic practices in the Age of Decline (mappō) are only to chant “Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō.” However, Kozoin Nisshin 広蔵院日辰, who was active about 160 years before Nichikan, insisted that it is important to read the whole Hoke-kyō while chanting “Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō.” Thus, although the 2 monks were related to the same Nikkomon 日興門 school, their teachings differed. In Taisekiji at that time, the teaching of Nisshin was the mainstream, so Nichikan severely criticized the teaching of Taisekiji by focusing on the Dokuju Rongi 読誦論義 written by Nisshin in order to change the teaching of Taisekiji from that of Nisshin.