In 1253 at the age of 32, Nichiren Daishonin established the religion of “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” at Seichoji Temple in Awa, the province of His hometown.
Afterwards, with exception to the time of the Izu exile, He led many years here in Kamakura until the time of Discarding the Provisional Identity and Revealing the True Identity (hosshaku-kempon) (see reference) at the Tatsunokuchi Persecution on September 12th 1271. He exerted Himself to conduct shakubuku and propagate Myōhō which is the mystic Law.
On July 16th 1260, He submitted the Risshō ankoku-ron (On Securing the Peace of the Land through the Propagation of True Buddhism) to the shogunate by denouncing their behavior of seeking Nembutsu and Zen. He predicted that if erroneous teachings prevail in the country, the catastrophe of foreign invasion and the disaster of revolt from within will occur without fail. He directed us to take faith in Myoho-Renge-Kyo which is the single true law. This is the “Risshō ankoku-ron”.
Following 1268, His prediction came true by a visit from a Mongolian emissary. Because of this, the Daishonin sent letters (including eleven gosho letters) to high-ranking officials of the shogunate and to main Temples in Kamakura to have them reconsider the “Risshō ankoku-ron”.

Because Nichiren Daishonin propagated His teachings in Kamakura, He was subjected to ploys from believers of other sects who joined hands with the shogunate. Vice Chief of the Samurai Office, Hei no Saemon-no-jo Yoritsuna, arrested the Daishonin on September 12th 1271. Then at midnight, he secretly took the Daishonin to Tatsunokuchi and attempted to have the Daishonin beheaded. This is referred to as the Tatsunokuchi Persecution.
Immediately preceding the attempted beheading at Tatsunokuchi, a bright spherical light traveled across the dark sky from the direction of Enoshima. All samurai froze in debilitating fear, and were unable to complete the beheading.
Because of this, the Daishonin was exiled to Sado Island.

Hosshaku-kempon refers to when a Buddha discards the provisional identity and reveals the true identity. The Daishonin, who behaved as the votary of the Lotus Sutra, revealed the life condition of the True Buddha as His inner realization at the time of the Tatsunokuchi Persecution.
The Daishonin Himself makes reference to this in the “Opening of the Eyes”, where we can understand the meaning of the declaration “Nichiren discarded the life of the common mortal at the execution site of Tatsunokuchi and revealed the life of the True Buddha of Kuon-ganjo which is the Origin of the True Buddha’s Enlightenment in the Infinite Past, and then went to Sado Island”(declaration). After the Tatsunokuchi Persecution, the Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon which is the object of worship. This behavior is nothing other than the behavior of the True Buddha.
On October 12th 1279, as the True Purpose of the Buddha’s Advent into this World, Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching which should be embraced by all living beings in the Latter Day of the Law. He passed away peacefully on October 13th 1282.