Before the time of Grand Master Dengyō, this Great Bodhisattva Hachiman had been fed with the taste of a diluted Lotus Sūtra, like milk diluted with water. Due to the merit of his virtuous acts in previous lives, the Great Bodhisattva was reborn as Emperor Ōjin and manifested himself as a god to protect the land of Japan. However, Hachiman’s merit of good acts in previous lives has been exhausted and the taste of the True Dharma has been lost and it has been many years since the slanderers of the True Dharma filled the country of Japan. Being revered by the people of Japan for many years as their protective deity, Hachiman did not abandon them, but kept the slanderers of the True Dharma under his protection, like aged parents refusing to cast aside unfilial children. Therefore, Hachiman’s palace was burnt down probably by heavenly beings as punishment.

Kangyō Hachiman-shō, Remonstration with Bodhisattva Hachiman, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 264-265