[In the sixth month of the 3rd year of the Kenji era (1277), Nichiren Shōnin wrote a letter of explanation in place of Inaba-bō Nichiei, a disciple of Nichiren, and submitted it to Nichiei’s father, Shimoyama Hyōgo Gorō Mitsumoto.]

It may sound self-conceited, but according to the sūtras, Nichiren Shōnin seems closely related to all the people in Japan, from the Emperor above to all the people below. To them he has three virtues: first, the virtue of parents; second, that of the master; and third, that of a messenger of a lord. The “messenger of the Buddha,” “eyes” and “sun and moon” mentioned in the Lotus Sūtra all mean Nichiren Shōnin. Grand Master Chang-an says in his Commentary on the Nirvana Sūtra: “He, who removes evil from a man, is a man’s real parents.” Nevertheless, the shogunate listened to the false charges made by slanderers of the True Dharma, monks without faith and enemies of the country, and without examining these charges exiled Nichiren Shōnin by bending the law. Were they intending to invite disasters? What a pity!

Shimoyama Goshōsoku, The Shimoyama Letter, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 5, Page 88,/strong>