Hokkeko

Hokkekō is a lay organization affiliated with the Nichiren Shoshu school of Japanese Buddhism and the name most Nichiren Shoshu temple congregations are known by. Hokke is a reference to the Lotus Sutra (Myōhō-Renge-Kyō 妙法蓮華経 or Hokkekyō 法華経), the Buddhist scripture Nichiren Shoshu bases its teachings on, and kō (講) in this usage means lay group or congregation. Historical references to temple congregations as Hokkekō or Hokkekōshū date back to at least the 13th century. Nichiren Daishonin (1222-1282), the founder of Nichiren Shoshu, also referred collectively to his lay followers as Hokkekōshū (法華講衆) in the dedication written on the Dai-Gohonzon, the school's object of veneration, inscribed on October 12, 1279. Nichiren Shoshu attributes the appellation Hokkekō to this usage by Nichiren Daishonin. Hokkeko is the name given to Nichiren Daishonin's believers who died at the Atsuhara persecution. They are affiliated with the head temple at Taisekiji in Japan.