Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism

Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
日蓮正宗
Taisekiji Head Temple, Fujinomiya, Japan
Classification	Nichiren Buddhism
Scripture	Lotus Sutra Gosho writings of Nichiren
Theology	Hokke Buddhism
Polity	Hokkeko
High Priest	Nichi Nyo Shonin
Buddhist temple	732
Liturgy	Liturgy of Nichiren Shoshu
Headquarters	Base of Mount Fuji
Founder	Nichiren Daishonin Nikko Shonin
Origin	1290 Minobu, Yamanashi, later transferred to Taisekiji
Members	550,000 lay members
Official website	Nichiren Shoshu Website

Nichiren Shōshū (日蓮正宗 English: Orthodox School of Nichiren) is a branch of Nichiren Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren Daishonin (1222–1282). Nichiren Shōshū claims Nichiren as its founder through his disciple Nikkō Shonin (1246–1333), the founder of the school's Head Temple Taiseki-ji, located at the base of Mount Fuji. Nichiren Shōshū has adherents around the world, with the largest concentration in Japan,. The Myohoji Temple located in Los Angeles, California serves as the organization's headquarters in the United States. Its lay members are called the Hokkeko (法華講衆).

The main object of worship and veneration by its believers is the Dai Gohonzon, presently enshrined in Hoando building located in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture while the official logo used is the round crane (Japanese: Tsuru-no-Maru). Both its leadership and adherents ascribe a uniquely honorific title to Nichiren, as the Dai-Shonin (Great Teacher) while maintaining that the sole legitimate successor to both his ministry and legacy is Nikko Shonin alone and the successive high priests of Nichiren Shōshū.

The current 68th high priest of the temple priesthood is Nichínyo Shonin.

Nichiren Shōshū is a school rooted in Mahayana Buddhism. Its head temple, the Taiseki-ji, is located on the lower slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan. Taiseki-ji is visited regularly by Nichiren Shōshū believers from around the world who come to chant to the Dai Gohonzon, which was described by Nichiren as "the essence of my Buddahood written in Sumi Ink". Unlike other Mahayana Buddhist practices, Nichiren expounded the Lotus Sutra and chanting Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō as a way for anyone to obtain Enlightenment regardless of one's position in life, condition of circumstances, gender and occupational role as well as not necessarily waiting to be reincarnated into another future existence.