Editing Nichiren Shōshū (section)

==Overview==
[[File:Nichiren by Kano Tsunenobu (Honmonji).jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Nichiren Daishonin]] by Japanese artisan [[Kano Tsunenobu]] (1636–1713), now preserved at Nichiren Shoshu Honmonji Temple in [[Mitoyo, Kagawa]] prefecture. Measuring approximately 40 inches by 22 inches on silk, [[Edo period]]. ]]
Its head temple [[Taiseki-ji]] is located on the lower slopes of [[Mount Fuji]] in Japan. Taiseki-ji is visited regularly by Nichiren Shōshū believers from around the world who come to chant to the [[Dai Gohonzon]], which they claim to physically embody the spirit of Nichiren in both wooden form and [[sumi ink]].

Unlike other Mahayana Buddhist practices, Nichiren championed the [[Lotus Sutra]] as the only valid Buddhist practice and chanting ''[[Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo]]'' as the only valid path for anyone to obtain [[Buddhahood]] regardless of one's position in life, condition of circumstances, gender and occupational role as well as not necessarily waiting to be reborn into another future life existence.<ref>{{Cite web|title=On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime {{!}} Soka Gakkai International (SGI)|url=https://www.sgi.org/about-us/president-ikedas-writings/on-attaining-buddhahood.html|last=International (SGI)|first=Soka Gakkai|website=www.sgi.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

Nichiren Shōshū claims to operate over 700 temples and temple-like facilities (lay propagation centers) in [[Japan]], as well as 24 temples outside Japan, and a membership of over 800,000 global adherents.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Nichiren Shōshū claims a direct lineage (''yuiju ichinin kechimyaku sojo'') of successive High Priests from [[Nikko Shonin]], who they believe was originally chosen by Nichiren to carry on the propagation of his Buddhist practice in the [[Three Ages of Buddhism]], a claim that other Nichiren Buddhist sects assert as well, such as [[Nichiren-shū]] but rejected by others.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Bromley|first1=David G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NHNeOx8UZJYC&q=Nichiren+Sh%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB&pg=PA153|title=The Future of New Religious Movements|last2=Hammond|first2=Phillip E.|last3=Seminary)|first3=New Ecumenical Research Association (Unification Theological|date=1987|publisher=Mercer University Press|isbn=978-0865542389|language=en}}</ref> Nichiren Shōshū claims this lineage is accorded to them through the following documents (copies existing, the original documents were stored in a treasure box at Omosu Honmon-ji, but were stolen during a raid by the soldiers of Takeda Katsuyori in 1581):{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
# “Document Entrusting the [[Dharma]] that Nichiren propagated throughout his Life” (日蓮–期弘法付属書, ''Nichiren ichigo guho fuzokusho'')
# “Document Entrusting Minobu-san” (身延相承書, ''Minobu-san fuzokusho'')
# The “One Hundred and Six Articles" (百六箇抄, ''Hyaku rokka-sho'')

The current leader of the sect is the 68th High Priest, Nichinyo Shōnin (1935–).{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Nichiren Shōshū priests distinguish themselves from those of most other schools by wearing only white and grey vestment robes and a white [[surplice]], as they believe Nichiren did.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

By the imperial [[Daijō-kan]] Decree #133 of the [[Emperor Meiji]] since 1872, Nichiren Shōshū priests, like other Japanese Buddhist sects as well as other former traditionalist "celibate" lifestyles such as artisans and [[Geisha]] et cetera, have been permitted to marry.

Accordingly, the sect does not impose any regulations of [[Buddhist ethics|Buddhist morality]] on gender or marital relationships, poverty or wealthy lifestyles, ranging from personal habits or vices, divorce, abortion, sartorial or dietary choices including the consumption of vegetables versus meat, dairy or alcohol, et cetera.

The sect also vehemently rejects monetary and material donations from non-members who are not registered or affiliated with a local branch temple, citing claims of "karmic impurity" from non-believers and those who belong to other religions. This position of not accepting alms from non-believers is taught by Nichiren in his "Letter to Ni'ike" ("''Ni'ike gosho''"), and by Nikko Shonin in his "Twenty-six Admonitions" ("''Nikko yuikai okimon''"). Accordingly, the offertory fee to register as a new member is strongly forbidden to be paid for by a fellow [[Hokkeko]] believer, except under rare circumstances of extreme poverty or dire homelessness.

The sect categorizes three forms of donations for its registered believers:
# The pro-active sharing of its religious practice to non-believers through chanting [[Nam Myoho Renge Kyo]] and [[Shakubuku]].
# The offertory of food and monetary donations to sustain the local temple and its priests. 
# The ancient Asian practice of gaining [[Buddhist merit]] (Japanese: 廻向, Eko) by providing free labor services (cleaning, volunteer work) for the temple.

The lay member organization of the sect, "Hokkeko–Rengo–Kai" is headquartered at the Grand Hodo-in Temple in [[Toshima, Tokyo]].