Shinkoku-O Gosho - Part 4

Shinkoku-O Gosho
(Sovereigns of Our Divine Land)

Part 4

Spread of the Tendai-lotus Sect

During the reign of the fiftieth sovereign, Emperor Kammu, a sage priest named Saicho (Grand Master Dengyo) founded the Lotus Sect which was superior to other Buddhist schools and defected in debate the six sects of Nara: Kisha, Jojitsu, Ritsu, Hosso, Sanron and Kegon.

Learning about the school of Buddhism called Dainichi (Great Sun Buddha: Shingon) Sect in China, Grand Master Dengyo, moreover, went to China during the reign of the same emperor (23rd year of the Enryaku Period: 804) to study and transmit the four schools of Buddhism. he studied the Lotus, Shingon (True word),  Zen and Mahayana Ritsu Sects in China. Upon returning to Japan, however, Grand Master Dengyo spread only the Lotus and Mahayana Ritsu Sects without spreading the Zen Sect. As for the Shingon Sect, Dengyo did not recongnize its independence, merely permitting monks of the seven great temples of Nara to perform the esoteric rite of "sprinkling water on the head" ceremony. Not knowing the true intent of the Grand Master, however, people in those days conjectured that he studied the profound teaching of the Tendai-Lotus school, but not the doctrine of Shingon esotericism.

by Nichiren Daishonin
12th year of Bun'ei Era (1275)