Nikkō Shōnin, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetNikkō Shōnin
Japanese Buddhist monk
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Kajikazawa, Japan
About Nikkō Shōnin
- Nikko Shonin (????, 8 March 1246 — 7 February 1333), Buddhist name Hawaki-bo Byakuren Ajari Nikko (??????????), was one of the six senior disciples of Nichiren and was the former chief priest of Kuon-ji temple in Mount Minobu, Japan.
- Various Nichiren-related sects based in Japan claim to have been founded by Nikko, including Nichiren Shoshu and some lineages within Nichiren Shu.
- According to the doctrines of various Nichiren Buddhist schools, including Nichiren Shu, Nichiren Shoshu, and the Soka Gakkai, among others, Nikko singularly upheld the doctrine that Nichiren was the True and Eternal Buddha in the Latter Day of the Law (Mappo) and therefore is the sole legitimate successor to the ministry and legacy of Nichiren.
- These lineages teach that Nikko kept meticulous scholarly records during his lifetime, along with keeping a highly organized religious practice, and is responsible for much of the records that survive today.In 1332, four months before his death, he designated Nichimoku Shonin as his successor.
- The grave of Nikko remains today in Kitayama Honmonji, Omosu, in Suruga Province where he lived for thirty-six years, establishing a Buddhist seminary in the Nichiren-shu religion.
- The Koshi-E memorial feast of his death anniversary is commemorated on February 6 (Nichiren Shoshu O-tai-ya) and February 7 (Gosho-to-e ceremony).
Read more at Wikipedia