Only I, Nichiren, remained in this country to declare these facts. The ruler of this country was reproachful of me and had hundreds of people slander me, speak ill of me, attack me with sticks and swords, and chase me out of my house. As I did not stop my protest to the government, the ruler personally exiled me two times.

On the 12th of the 9th month in the 8th year of the Bun’ei Era (1271) he even tried to have me beheaded at Tatsunokuchi. In the Sūtra of the Golden Splendor it is said: “If the evil-minded people are respected while the good are punished, the country will be attacked and destroyed by foreign enemies.”

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 32.