He is said to have been born into the Haniya, a warrior clan of Kazusa Province, now Chiba Prefecture. As a child he entered a temple of the Nichiren school, took the tonsure and studied under Nichiei, a monk of the Nakayama lineage. His strong character, devoted wholeheartedly to Nichiren's teachings, is thought to have been shaped by this boyhood training.
He went up to Kyoto and began spreading Nichiren's teachings. The Nichiren school valued shakubuku, a method of clearly pointing out the errors of other teachings to lead people to the true one. Nisshin became known for especially fierce shakubuku and is said to have preached fearlessly even before the townspeople.
Sent to Hizen Province, now Saga Prefecture, as head of the Nakayama lineage's mission, he spread the teachings with zeal. But his overly strict methods were judged a problem, and he was finally expelled from the Nakayama lineage. His refusal to bend the teachings he believed in also brought clashes with monks of his own school.
Back in Kyoto, Nisshin is said to have founded Honpō-ji as his base (accounts vary). He chose to belong to no faction and to preach single-mindedly the teachings of Nichiren as he understood them. Though Honpō-ji faced repeated hardships, it was handed down and still stands in Kyoto today.
He wrote the Shakubuku Shōgi Shō, setting out his views. In it Nisshin argued that to protect the true teaching, one must fearlessly correct errors no matter who the other party is. This firm conviction would soon be directed even at the shogun, the ruler of the age.
He wrote the Risshō Chikoku Ron and presented it to the shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori, urging him to govern the country by Nichiren's teachings. But he angered Yoshinori, was arrested, and Honpō-ji was destroyed. It is said that he was harshly tormented in prison and had a red-hot pot placed on his head, and he came to be called "pot-wearing Nisshin".
When Yoshinori died in the Kakitsu Rebellion, Nisshin was pardoned and released. It is said that in prison Hon'ami Kiyonobu, a sword connoisseur also imprisoned, was moved by Nisshin's character and became his follower. The Hon'ami family went on to support Honpō-ji, and the artist Hon'ami Kōetsu later came from this family.
After his release Nisshin rebuilt Honpō-ji and continued preaching in Hizen and elsewhere. Around this year, however, it is said his activities were again condemned by the shogunate and Honpō-ji was destroyed a second time. Still Nisshin did not give up; he later rebuilt the temple and went on preaching.
Even in his later years he kept writing, producing works such as the Haniya Shō addressed to his clan back home, explaining the proper attitude of faith. He valued his ties with believers in many regions and trained disciples to pass on the teachings. His way of life, unbowed by any hardship, drew many followers, especially among Kyoto's townspeople.
He died in Kyoto this year. Nisshin, who spoke fearlessly even to the powerful and never bent his teachings however many times he was arrested, greatly influenced later followers of the Nichiren school. Items connected with Nisshin are still kept at Honpō-ji, and his life continues to be told.
NichirenAshikaga YoshinoriHon'ami Kōetsu
Ikkyū SōjunAshikaga MochiujiIchijō KaneyoshiYamana SōzenUesugi NorizaneRennyoSesshūSōgi
People of the Muromachi period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.