At the Tatsunokuchi execution site, Nichiren Daishonin revealed his true identity as Kuonganjyo no Jijuyujin (the root of all the Buddhas in the universe). He is the True Buddha who will save all mankind in the Mappo era (2,000 years after Siddhartha’s death). This was predicted by Siddhartha in the Lotus Sutra. 

At the time, Kamakura was full of hatred. Especially from priests of other religious schools. 

In January 1268, a letter from the Mongol Empire arrived.
Kublai Khan demanded that Japan surrender and be ruled by Mongolia. Ignorance and slandering of the True Buddha will cause Japan to be attacked from foreign countries. Nichiren Daishonin’s Rissho Ankoku Ron (Establishing the Correct Teaching make the nation secure) this would happen.

That same year, from spring through summer, there was no rainfall. Ryokan, a Zen monk who hated Nichiren Daishonin the most, was given orders to pray for rain from the Shogunate. 

He was the most powerful monk to impact the Shogunate at that time.   

The Daishonin wanted to prove to Ryokan that the Lotus Sutra was correct by challenging him to a debate. Ryokan was always avoiding The Daishonin. So Nichiren Daishonin sent a letter to him stating: 

“If rain falls within seven days, I, Nichiren will throw away the Lotus Sutra and become your disciple.”
Ryokan took on the challenge.

Ryokan prayed with his 120 disciples. Their voices echoed in the sky and smoke rose up from their heads.

Four to five days passed but there was no rain. After seven days, no rain clouds appeared. 

Ryokan begged Nichiren Daishonin to give him seven more days. Ryokan prayed himself into a sweat, but nothing fell except his own tears. There was no rain in Kamakura, instead, strong gales blew continually. Ryokan was defeated. 

Nichiren Daishonin prayed for rain to help the people in Japan. Then it rained for three days straight. 

Ryokan’s anger and hatred exploded. His rain prayer couldn’t counter the Lotus Sutra. Ryokan persuaded the Government to execute Nichiren Daishonin. 

On the 12^th of September 1271, Nichiren Daishonin was arrested. 

“Hei no Saemon led several hundred-armed soldiers to take me down to the execution site. He looked at me viciously and spoke in an angry voice”.

Over the past few months, the Daishonin expected this to happen soon.

“How lucky that I can give my life for the Lotus Sutra! If I give up my useless head, it will be like exchanging sand for gold or rocks for jewels!”

Shoubo, Hei no Saemon’s chief retainer, rushed up, snatched the scroll of the fifth volume of the Lotus Sutra from inside Nichiren Daishonin’s robe, and struck him in the face with it three times. Then Shoubo threw it open on the floor. The other soldiers grabbed the other nine scrolls of the Sutra and stomped on them and wore them around their bodies. They scattered the scrolls all over the floor.

Nichiren Daishonin was staring at this madness and said in a loud voice: 
“How hilarious! Look at Hei no Saemon going insane! You are about to knock over the pillar of Japan!” 

Hei no Saemon who was scolded by the Daishonin, face turned pale and he became rigid. The color drained from the soldiers’ faces when they saw that the Daishonin had a confident attitude and no fear. They realized how wrong they were.  

The night of the twelfth the Daishonin was placed under the custody at lord of Musashinokami Nobutoki’s place. Around midnight he was taken out of Kamakura to be executed.

As they were passing by Wakamiya avenue, the Daishoin said to the soldiers after stopping them:

“Don’t worry. I just want to say my last words to Great Bodhisattva Hachiman.” 

The Daishonin got off the horse and shouted: 

“Great Bodhisattva Hachiman, are you the true protector?  I, Nichiren, am the only devotee of the Lotus Sutra in Japan. I want to save all the people of Japan from falling into the hell of endless suffering for slandering the Lotus Sutra. 
Moreover, if the Mongol empire attacked this country, can even the Nittenji (Sun goddess) and Great Hachiman Bodhisattva remain safe?  
When the True Buddha of the Lotus Sutra appears in the Mappo era, the Shoten Zenjin vowed to Siddhartha that they will protect the True Buddha without fail. 
I should not have to remind you. Why do you not fulfill your commitment.” 

Then the Daishonin said:

“If I am executed tonight and go to the pure land of the sacred mountain, I will report to Shakyamuni Buddha that the Nittenji (Sun goddess) and Great Hachiman Bodhisattva are the protectors who have broken their promise to him. If you feel this will hurt you, do something about it right away.” 

When they approached Yuigahama (Yui beach), the Daishonin said:

“Stop right here. I have a message for someone living near this area.”

Then he sent a boy called Kumao to alert Shijo Kingo (Nichiren Daishonin’s loyal follower). Shijo was shocked and rushed out barefoot to hold on to the Daishoin’s horse and walked to the execution site in tears.

The death sentence from the Government was non-negotiable, so Shijo Kingo thought Nichiren Daishonin would definitely be executed. He vowed to die beside the Daishonin by Hara-Kiri (ritual suicide).

They arrived at the execution site. 

Shijo Kingo bursted into tears and said: “The time has come!” 

The Daishonin said: “I am so grateful for this moment!” I’ve been waiting for this!”

Nichiren Daishonin kneeled on the sand and waited. The executioner Echi no Sabro stood next to the Daishonin. 

The moment the executioner brought down his sword, a ball of light as bright as the moon appeared from the direction of Eno island, shooting across the sky from southeast to northwest! 

It was pitch black and no one’s face could be seen. Then the radiant object illuminated everyone. 

The executioner was blinded and fell to the ground. The soldiers were filled with panic. Some ran away and some jumped off their horses and huddled on the ground, while others ducked in their saddles. 

Nichiren Daishonin called out with dignity:
“What happened? Why do you run away from me? Aren’t I a filthy prisoner? What are you waiting for! Come closer!” 

But no one would dare come near the Daishonin. 

He urgently shouted:
“Do it already! When the dawn comes, it will be disgraceful!” 

No one replied. 

The light was so bright that it blinded the master swordsman and knocked him down. His sword broke into pieces. This was the prophecy written in Siddhartha’s Sutra which came true.

There is no other event in the history of mankind that is so majestic and magnificent. 

At Tatsunokuchi, Nichiren Daishonin revealed his true identity as Kuonganjo no Jijuyujin (the root of all the Buddhas in the universe). The True Buddha who will save all mankind in the Mappo era that Siddhartha predicted in the Sutra. 

 The Shoten Zenjin (the force of the universe) strictly protect and serve Nichiren Daishonin. Therefore, the Daishonin stated in the Gheshu Honbutsu Jodo Gosho (Buddha’s true identity):
 “Even if the evil king is powerful, like Hei no saemon, he cannot kill the Daishonin because of the protection from the Shoten Zenjin.”

Therefore, Nichiren Daishonin’s state of being is unbreakable.

If all the people in Japan believe in the Daishonin and chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, then the country will become resilient. Therefore, Nichiren Daishonin Buddha is the pillar of Japan.

The Tatsunokuchi persecution is proof that Nichiren Daishonin is the root of all the Buddhas in the universe. Not only to those who believed, but also those who did not believe.

**Background information 

As a result of this evil deed and ignorance, a civil war happened when a half-brother of the lord of Kamakura attempted rebellion (1272).
Also in 1274 and seven years later (1281), two foreign invasions occurred led by Mongolia’s Kublai Khan.  
These events were predicted in the Daishonin’s Rissho Ankoku Ron (Establishing the Correct Teaching make the nation secure).

 At that time, the Mongol’s military power was far superior. No doubt Japan would be defeated. But there was a mysterious typhoon that occurred twice and deterred the Mongol’s invasions.

Nichiren Daishonin ordered Fu-jin (The Wind deity, one of the Shoten Zenjin) to save Japan from total destruction.  The two prophecies (invasion and civil war) came true to wake up the people of Japan. It happened so they would realize the punishment for going against the Lotus Sutra. 

When all people believe in the Daishonin and chant Nam Myo Ho Ran Ge Kyo, there will be no more wars, no poverty, and all calamities will end.
We will all be protected by the force of the universe and gain unbreakable happiness.
This is the realization of the Rissho Ankoku Ron.

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