Adoration of Gohonzon

In the Maṇḍala Gohonzon, the object of our worship, is shown the origin of how the Mandala was written.

One day in the 12th month of 1274 (11th year of Bunnei), I (Nichiren) wrote the Gohonzon in the village of Hakii, Province of Kai (the present-day Minobusan, Yamanashi Prefecture).

Nichiren

It was the time when over 2220 Years had passed since Śākyamuni Buddha passed away. Nevertheless, in the three countries of India, China and Japan, namely in the world, there had never existed a Gohonzon like this. This is probably because none of our past masters attempted to spread the Gohonzon among the society even though they were aware of its existence. Or it may be that nobody knew about it.

Śākyamuni Buddha, after careful consideration, determined that He should conceal the Gohonzon until the arrival of an opportune moment to reveal it, leaving it to the people in the period of Mappō.

In fact, the Buddha preached in the Lotus Sutra that His messenger, Jōgyō Bosatsu, should spread the Buddha’s teachings in the first 500 years of Mappō. As predicted by the Buddha, Nichiren Daishōnin appeared in this world to reveal the Gohonzon, and expounded the teachings of the Odaimoku.

Signature given by Nichiren Shōnin himself.
Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō
Easy Readings of the Lotus Sutra