The temple is near the Shonin's birthplace of Kominato,
quite a steep climb up Mt. Kiyosumi by car. The bracing air is filled
with a sense of austerity and profundity appropriate for a sacred
place of training. Even though the elevation is only 383 meters,
Mt. Kiyosumi is the second highest mountain in the Boso Peninsula.
As its slopes rise directly out of the shoreline, the mountain gives
the majestic impression of Mt. Hiei. This is no wonder, as Mt. Kiyosumi
was once revered as one of the most sacred mountains for Tendai
Shu, and was the grounds for a large temple. The principal deity
is Kokuzo Bosatsu, Akasa-garbha-bodhisattva, who performs miracles
for good fortune and success.
 On
May 12th, 1233, at the age of 12, Nichiren Shonin climbed the mountain
accompanied by his father. Here, he studied the esoteric Buddhism
of the Tendai Shu. On October 8th, 1239, at the age of 16, he entered
the priesthood under the guidance of Dozen-bo, and changed his name
to Rencho.
The Shonin once prayed to Akasa-garbha-bodhisattva to make him the
wisest man in Japan. On the twenty-first day of prayer, he received
a precious jewel from an old monk (actually the personification
of Akasa-garbha-bodhisattva) in a dream. From that day forward,
he gave himself over to his studies and training, the path that
would lead to his finding of the true teachings of the Lotus Sutra.
 While
always keeping Seicho-ji Temple as a base, Nichiren Shonin went
on to study at places such as Kamakura, Mt. Hiei, Mii Temple, Nara
and Mt. Koya. He studied many things, including esoteric, Jodo,
Zen and Ritsu Buddhism, but could not discover the true teaching.
He continued to study many scriptures, and finally realized that
the only true teachings lay in the Lotus Sutra. The Shonin returned
to his mountain, with the intent of correcting the wrongs of the
many different sects, and spreading the truth of the Lotus Sutra.
After much thought, he made the firm decision to spread the teachings
of the Lotus Sutra far and wide, and in the early morning of April
28, 1253, at the age of 32, he chanted "Namu Myo-ho Renge Kyo"
to the rising sun. This was the Rikkyo Kaishu declaration. At that
time, he also changed his name to "Nichiren." The name,
based on the Lotus Sutra, represents the brightness of the sun and
the moon (Nichi) and the purity of the lotus (Ren).
However, the people's reactions were cold. Lord Kagenobu Tojo, a
devout believer in Amitabha Buddhism, was especially enraged, and
not only had the Shonin banished from the mountain, but also planned
his murder. While in hiding at Renge-ji Temple in Hanabusa, the
Shonin made the decision to leave Kiyosumi, his physical and spiritual
home, and go to Kamakura. He bid his parents farewell, and headed
for the west coast of the peninsula.
Origin
 This
historic temple was built in 771A.D. Restored by the priest Jikaku-daishi
in the Heian era, it flourished as the Tendai Shu's largest temple
in the Boso peninsula. It was converted from a Tendai to Shingon
Shu temple after receiving devotions from the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa
in the early Edo era, and received a status equal to one hundred
thousand goku (a unit used to measure the value of a Daimyo (lord)
or Samurai's fiefdom in the feudal era). As a branch temple of Daigo-ji
Sanpo-in, Seicho-ji Temple was also ranked first out of three primary
monasteries in the Kanto region, and was granted the crest of the
chrysanthemum. The temple was converted to Nichiren Shu on February
16, 1949, on the anniversary of the founder's birth.
Present Status
Starting with the Mani-den, the temple's main hall
(the statue of the principle deity Akasa-garbha-bodhisattva housed
here is one of three in existence in Japan), the temple grounds
hold the Dai-soshi-do, a grand hall of the founder, built in 1971
in celebration of the 750th anniversary of the founder's birth,
the Kyaku-den built in 1921 in celebration of the 700th anniversary
of the  founders
birth, the Kuri built in 1647, the training hall built in 1999 in
celebration of the 750th anniversary of the Rikkyo Kaishu, and the
Inner Gate (prefectual cultural property) built in 1646. The large
bronze statue of the founder in Asahi-ga-mori, the burial place
of Dozen-bo, the government protected cedar and the temple bell
(prefectural cultural property) from 1392 are equally important.
In addition, a sacred statue of the founder donated by the Lady
Oman-no-kata and the founder's ink stone (in a lacquered box) are
enshrined in the Dai-soshi-do hall.
The main annual events are the Rikkyo Kaishu-e service
on April 27 - 28, the ceremony for entering the priesthood on May
12, the Akasa-garbha-bodhisattva Festival on September 13 and the
Oeshiki on October 27-28. The ceremony of granting the docho (presentation
of certificate of priesthood) is performed in January, April, July
and October, and acts as the first passageway to becoming a minister
of Nichiren Shu.
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