Now, regarding the rank of Grand Master T’ien-t’ai, Grand Master Chang-an cites from his biography of T’ien-t’ai in the “Preface” to the Great Concentration and Insight stating:

“(T’ien-t’ai) entered the state of spiritual meditation and passed away peacefully. His rank is the stage of the five kinds of meritorious acts of meditation and other practices preached in the ‘Variety of Merits’ chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Therefore, it is preached in the ‘Variety of Merits’ chapter, ‘Compared to the merit of giving seven kinds of treasures to each person in incalculable number of countries and to educate them all to attain the six supernatural powers, the merit of the first of the five kinds of meritorious acts, rejoicing at hearing the Lotus Sutra, is a hundred, a thousand and ten thousand times superior. Let alone the merit of the fifth of the five kinds of meritorious acts, six kinds of practice leading to Buddhahood.’ It is preached also in the ‘Teacher of the Dharma’ chapter of the Lotus Sutra, ‘that is to say, he is My messenger sent out among the people to perform My work.’ ”

Grand Master Dengyō has only the highest of praises for T’ien-t’ai in his Effects of T’ien-t’ai on Buddhist Schools, “The interpretation of the Lotus Sūtra by Grand Master T’ien-t’ai is incomparable. No one in T’ang China can compare to him.” He also states, “Grand Master T’ien-t’ai is clearly a messenger of the Buddha. Those who praise him will accumulate happiness as high as Mt. Sumeru, and those who insult him will fall into the Hell of Incessant Suffering.”

Tayūsakan-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ikegami Munenaka, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers I, Volume 6, Page 106