With regard to Tendai Buddhism in Japan that was founded by Saichō (767-822), it was “essentially the same as its parent sect in China, and was based like it on the teachings of the Lotus Sūtra.” The Nichiren School in Japan that is founded by Nichiren (1222-1282) not only worships the Lotus Sūtra as the supreme of all scriptures, but also goes so far as to only chant the title of the Lotus Sūtra as the most revered phrase, representing the cause and effect of Buddhahood. This can be seen as the impact of Chih-i’s effort of interpreting the title of the Lotus Sūtra in his work Hsüan-i (Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra).
The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: Tien-tai Philosophy of Buddhism