Editing Nichiren Buddhism (section)

===Nichiren's writings===
{{Main|Nichiren#Writings}}
A prolific writer, Nichiren's personal communiques among his followers as well as numerous treatises detail his view of the correct form of practice for the ''Latter Day of the Law'' (''[[Three Ages of Buddhism|mappō]]''); lay out his views on other Buddhist schools, particularly those of influence during his lifetime; and elucidate his interpretations of Buddhist teachings that preceded his. These writings are collectively known as ''Gosho'' (御書) or ''Nichiren ibun'' (日蓮遺文).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/G/66|title=Gosho – Dictionary of Buddhism – Nichiren Buddhism Library|website=www.nichirenlibrary.org|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927130703/http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/G/66|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Mori2003>{{Cite journal|last=Mori|first=Ichiu|date=2003|title=Nichiren's View of Women|url=https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/2816|journal=Japanese Journal of Religious Studies|volume=30/3–4|page=280|via=Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=2 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602013922/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/2816|url-status=live}}</ref>

Out of 162 historically identified followers of Nichiren, 47 were women.  Many of his writings were to women followers in which he displays strong empathy for their struggles, and continually stressed the Lotus Sutra's teaching that all people, men and women equally, can become enlightened just as they are.  His voice is sensitive and kind which differs from the strident picture painted about him by critics.<ref name=Matsunaga1988>{{Cite book|title=Foundation of Japanese Buddhism. Vol. II, The mass movement (Kamakura & Muromachi periods)|first=Alicia|last=Matsunaga|date=1988|publisher=Buddhist Books International|others=Matsunaga, Daigan.|isbn=978-0914910282|location=Los Angeles|oclc=137242947|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/foundationofjapa0000mats}}</ref>{{rp|165}}<ref>{{Cite book|title=Finding peace: an Oriental quest|last=Koushiki|first=Choudhury|isbn=9788193315040|location=London|oclc=974496695|date = 2017-03-06}}</ref>{{rp|141}}<ref name=Mori2003 />{{rp|280–281}}

Which of these writings, including the ''Ongi Kuden'' (orally transmitted teachings), are deemed authentic or [[apocryphal]] is a matter of debate within the various schools of today's Nichiren Buddhism.<ref>Stone, Jacqueline I. (1990).[http://www.princeton.edu/~jstone/Dissertation/Some%20Disputed%20Writings%20in%20the%20Nichiren%20Corpus%20Textual,%20Herme.pdf Some disputed writings in the Nichiren corpus: Textual, hermeneutical and historical problems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030015535/http://www.princeton.edu/~jstone/Dissertation/Some%20Disputed%20Writings%20in%20the%20Nichiren%20Corpus%20Textual,%20Herme.pdf |date=30 October 2013 }}, dissertation, Los Angeles: University of California; retrieved 26 July 2013</ref><ref>Sueki Fumehiko: Nichirens Problematic Works, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 26/3-4, 261–280, 1999</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/gosho.html|title=Listing of Authenticated Gosho (Goibun) of Nichiren DaiShonin|access-date=10 December 2013|archive-date=26 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326155457/http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/gosho.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His ''Rissho Ankoku Ron'', preserved at Shochuzan [[Hokekyō-ji (Ichikawa)|Hokekyo-ji]], is one of the [[National Treasures of Japan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nichiren and His Time: Rissho ankoku ron|url=http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/091010/shoukai/02_index_02.htm|publisher=Kyoto National Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211215156/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/091010/shoukai/02_index_02.htm|archive-date=11 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nichiren-shu.org/AboutUs/major/hokekyoji.html|title=Nichiren Shu Portal|website=www.nichiren-shu.org|access-date=8 November 2014|archive-date=8 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008235401/http://nichiren-shu.org/AboutUs/major/hokekyoji.html|url-status=live}}</ref>