Gohonzon

Gohonzon (御本尊) is a generic term for a venerated religious object in Japanese Buddhism. It may take the form of a scroll or statuary. The term gohonzon typically refers to the mainstream use of venerated objects within Nichiren Buddhism, referring to the calligraphic paper mandala inscribed by the 13th Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren to which devotional chanting is directed.

Linguistically, the rootword honzon (本尊) derives from ancient word konpon-sogyo, signifying a devotional object of respect or worship, and with the honorific go- (御) prefix.

Varying Nichiren groups accord their own meanings to the term gohonzon in different ways, signifying their treatment of the object:

• "Object of Devotion" — Soka Gakkai
• "Object of Worship" — Nichiren Shōshū
• "The Great Mandala, Venerated Supreme" — Nichiren-shū sects

Paper scroll gohonzon are sometimes known as kakejiku gohonzon or moji-mandala (文字曼荼羅, "script mandala"). The term butsuzo gohonzon is used for statuary. Gohonzon are often enshrined within an altar shrine (butsudan).