The Six Elder Disciples of Nichiren Shonin

By Dr. Kyotsu Hori

Five days prior to his death, on the eighth of the 10th month in the fifth year of the Koan Period (1282), Nichiren Shonin at the residence of Ikegami Munenaka in the southern section of present day Tokyo chose six of his senior disciples to be leaders of his followers after his death.

They were Nichiji, Nitcho, Niko, Nikko, Nichiro, and Nissho, who carne to be referred respectfully Rokuroso or the Six Elder Priests.

Nissho Shonin (1221-1323)

Nissho, the first disciple of Nichiren Shonin, was a year senior to his master. Originally a Tendai monk, Nissho met Nichiren on Mt. Hiei while studying Buddhism. As soon as Nichiren began propagation of Nichiren Buddhism in Kamakura, Nissho came to join him 1253. As the first and oldest of Nichiren's disciples Nissho is believed to have been chiefly responsible for keeping the followers of Nichiren as a group while Nichiren himself was busy fighting religious enemies. After the death of Nichiren, Nissho resided mostly in the Myohokkeji Temple in the Hamado section of Kamakura. He is also responsible for the founding of the Myohoji Temple at Murata in present day Niigata Prefecture. He lived a long life of 102 years, passing away in 1323.

Nichiro Shonin (1245-1320)

Born in Note Village of Shimofusa Province (present Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture) as a son of Hiraga Jiro Arikuni, Nichiro was originally named Kisshomaro. After Arikuni's death, Nichiro's mother remarried Hiraga Tadaharu and gave birth to two more distinguished Nichiren monks: Nichizo and Nichirin. Kisshomaro went to Kamakura to becorne a disciple of Nichiren Shonin .in 1254, a year after the establishment of Nichiren Buddhism, and was given priest name of Nichiro. Nichiro is reported to be the most pious of all Nichiren disciples. Tradition says, for instance, that Nichiro's right arm was permanently broken at a beach outside Kamakura, where Nichiren was being banished to Izu aboard a fishing boat. When Nichiro insisted on accompanying his master, an official had to beat him with an oar in order to sail out. Nichiro's centers of propagation activities were the Myohonji Temple at Hikigayatsu in Kamakura (founded with the help of Daigaku Saburo), and the Hommonji Temple at the Ikegami section of Tokyo.

Nikko Shonin (1246-1333)

Byakuren Ajari Nikko Shonin was born and raised in the areas near Mt. Minobu, present day Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures. In his youth he studied Tendai Buddhism, Confusianism, as well as Japanese poems in Tendai temples. When Nichiren carne to study in the library of Jissoji Temple in Shizuoka to prepare to write the Rissho Ankokuron (Essay on the Pacification of the Nation through the Establishment of the True Dharma), Nikko met Nichiren and became his disciple. When Nichiren retreated to Mt. Minobu, Nikko actively propagated Nichiren Buddhism in Yamanashi-Shizuoka area. When Nichiren passed away in 1282, the Six Elder Disciples agreed to take annual turns to tend his grave on Mt. Minobu, but this agreement was not carried out for long. Nikko, whose base of activity was nearby, took sole charge. Hakiri Sanenaga, Lord of Mt. Minobu area, was getting along well with Nikko at first but gradually a disagreement developed because of Nikko's severe personality and finally Nikko left in 1288. With the help of Nanjo Tokimitus (Lord Ueno), Nikko moved ti temple called Taisekiji, and in the following year he built Hommonji at Omosu and. moved there. It became the center of Nikko's study and propagation for the rest of his life. He had a long life and lived until the age of 88. He died in 1333. In modern times, Nikko's disciples centering in Taisekiji separated themselves from Nichiren Shu and called themselves Nichiren Shoshu.

Niko (1253-1314)

Sado Ajari Niko Shonin was born in present day Mobara City, Chiba Prefecture, and became Nichiren's disciples at the age of 13. Niko waited on his master even during Nichiren's exile en Sado Island. While on Mt. Minobu, Nichiren wrote many letters, which disciples like Niko delivered to followers of Nichiren living in various places in the distance.

It is believed that it was Niko Shonin who went

to Mt. Kiyosumi to read Nichiren's Hoon-jo (Essay en Gratitude) in front of the grave of Priest Dozen, Nichiren's master who had passed away a short while before. When Nichiren Shonin passed away, the Six Elder Disciples agreed to take turns to attend their master's grave on Mt. Minobu, but the system soon deteriorated and Nikko took sale charge. Niko,who was active in the Mobara area, went to Minobu to help Nikko. When a quarrel began between Nikko and Lord Hakiri Sanenaga, Niko sided with the Lord. As a result Niko took sole charge, becoming the second minister of the Kuonji Temple on Mt. Minobu.

Nitcho Shonin (1252-1317)

Iyo Ajari Nitcho Shonin was born in the present day Shizuoka Prefecture and was adopted by Toki Jonin of Nakayama, Chiba Prefecture, who later entered the priesthood as Nichijo and founded the Hokekyoji Temple. Nitcho entered priesthood in the Guboji Temple in Mama, (also in Chiba Prefecture), which was then a Tendai temple. He later became a disciple of Nichiren and followed him to Sado Island in exile. Nichiren seems to have been proud of Nitcho and chose him as one of the Six Elders, hoping to be the leader of Nichiren followers in northern Chiba. After the death of Nichiren, Nitcho went to the Gubouji Temple, which had been converted to Nichiren Buddhism by his foster father several years earlier, and actively engaged in propagation. Unfortunately, a disagreement developed between Nitcho and his foster father, Toki Jonin, forcing Nitcho to leave for his native place. It is said that Lord Toki became furious and disinherited Nitcho when he was late for the third memorial service of Nichiren.

Nichiji Shonin (1250 ? )

He was born of a samurai family at Mimatsu in the Province of Suruga (Shizuoka-ken). At a young age, he became a novice priest at Jissji Temple,which was visited by Nichiren in 1257. In 1270, he met Nikk and became his disciple. Nikk took Nichiji to Nichiren, who was then living at Matsubagayatsu, Kamakura. On this occasion, Nichiji became a disciple of Nichiren with the consent of Nikk In 1280, Nichiji founded a Hokked Hall athis home town, Mimatsu. It would become the forerunner of Ren-ei-ji Temple.

Nichiji would attend the 13th memorial service held for Nichiren at Minobusan Kuonji on October 13, 1294. Then, on January 1, 1295, he started on an overseas mission. He went northwards, founded two temples in the Province of Mutsu (Aomori-ken), and three temples in Yezo (Hokkaido). Then he crossed the strait over to Karafuto (Sakhalin), and then went upstream of the Amur River. There are few but no definite accounts as to what happened to Nichiji beyond this point.

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