Nichirou

A Nichiren sect monk in the Kamakura period. The second of Nichiren's Six Elders. He was called Chikugobo or Chikugodono, and was referred to as Daikoku Ajari. He was from Node, Shimousa (Chiba Prefecture). He became a disciple of Nichiren in 1254 (Kencho 6) through his uncle Nichisho, and served his master without ever leaving his side. When Nichiren was exiled to Sado, he was imprisoned in a dungeon in Hase, Kamakura (now Kousokuji Temple). He was called the one who best respected his master. After Nichiren entered Minobu, he stayed in Kamakura with the elder Nichisho and took charge of the hermitage in Matsubagayatsu. He also founded Myohon-ji Temple in Hikigayatsu, Kamakura, and Honmon-ji Temple in Ikegami, Musashi Province (Tokyo). He was also invited to become the founder of Hondo-ji Temple in Hiraga (Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture), but instead of going himself, he sent his disciple Nichiden. He worked hard to educate his disciples, producing many talented people (the nine great masters of the Ronmon school), and Nichizo was the first Nichiren disciple to advance to Kyoto. He was the most devoted of the Rokurochu in his contributions to the preservation and development of the sect. He wrote works such as "Five-Time Genealogy" and "Genshi Gohonzon Soejo".

[Endo Asai September 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉時代の日蓮(にちれん)宗の僧。日蓮六老僧の第二位。筑後房(ちくごぼう)、筑後殿とよばれ、大国阿闍梨(だいこくあじゃり)と称される。下総(しもうさ)（千葉県）能手(ので)の人。叔父日昭の縁で1254年（建長6）入門、以後師のもとを離れないで給仕し、日蓮佐渡(さど)配流のときは鎌倉長谷(はせ)の土牢(つちろう)（いまの光則(こうそく)寺）に投獄された。師孝第一と称される。日蓮身延(みのぶ)入山後は長老の日昭とともに鎌倉にとどまって松葉谷(まつばがやつ)の草庵(そうあん)を管掌し、また鎌倉比企谷(ひきがやつ)に妙本寺、武蔵(むさし)国（東京都）池上に本門寺を創立した。また、平賀(ひらが)（千葉県松戸市）の本土(ほんど)寺の開山に迎えられたが、自らは行かず、弟子の日伝を赴かせた。弟子の教育に努めて多くの人材（朗門の九鳳(くほう)）を輩出したが、なかでも日像(にちぞう)は日蓮門下として初めて京都へ進出した。教団の護持、発展に尽くした功績は六老中第一。『五時系図』『玄旨御本尊添状(げんしごほんぞんそえじょう)』などの著作がある。

［浅井円道　2017年9月19日］

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