The three books in one table
They look alike, which is why they get confused. They are three vessels with different origins.
| Book | What it receives | Where | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goshuincho | A goshuin, proof of a visit | Shrines and temples alike | Concertina, blank throughout |
| Nokyocho | Proof of a sutra offering | Numbered circuits and pilgrimage routes | Often pre-printed with temple names and numbers |
| Goshuimoncho | A goshuimon, the daimoku | Nichiren-shu temples | Concertina, same shape but dedicated |
One practical point follows. The goshuin book is general purpose; the other two are for specific settings. One goshuin book therefore covers most visiting.
Nokyocho: the book for a circuit
Nokyo means offering a hand-copied sutra to a temple, and the nokyocho records that offering. Most people now pay a fee rather than present a copied sutra, but the name and the form have stayed.
How it differs from a goshuin book
- The pages follow the circuit. Temple names are usually printed in order from the first, so your progress is visible at a glance
- Each route has its own. Shikoku 88, Saigoku 33, Bando 33 Kannon: separate books for each
- It is sold on the route, at the first temple or through the route's association
Could you use a goshuin book instead?
Yes. Most temples on a circuit will write into one. But for walking a circuit through to the end, the nokyocho suits better, because the order is fixed and any gap shows.
Some temples charge different fees for a nokyocho, a hanging scroll and a pilgrim's robe. Follow the notice on site.
Goshuimoncho: the book for Nichiren-shu
Nichiren-shu temples inscribe not a goshuin but a goshuimon: the daimoku Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, written in the distinctive hige-moji style. It is the central formula of the school itself.
That is why there is a view that it should not sit alongside entries from elsewhere. In practice temples handle it in one of these ways.
| What you present | Common response |
|---|---|
| A dedicated goshuimoncho | You receive the goshuimon |
| A book holding entries from elsewhere | The two characters "myoho", or a pre-written sheet |
| An unused goshuin book | Varies from temple to temple |
Receiving "myoho" is not a refusal; it follows from the school's understanding. If Nichiren-shu temples will be a regular part of your visiting, a separate goshuimoncho settles it.
How many books will you need?
It depends on how you visit.
- Visiting shrines and temples as they come: one goshuin book
- Starting a numbered circuit: a goshuin book plus that route's nokyocho
- Visiting Nichiren-shu temples regularly: a goshuin book plus a goshuimoncho
- Separating shrines from temples: two goshuin books
The one book or two finder works this out from your conditions, and where to buy a book covers sourcing them.
Living with more than one
Carrying three books everywhere is not realistic. Decide where you are going, then take the one book that day calls for.
- Circuit day: the nokyocho only
- Nichiren-shu temples: the goshuimoncho only
- Everything else: the goshuin book
Keeping each book in its own pouch in one agreed place cuts both mix-ups and forgetting. Carrying is covered in how to use a goshuin book and on the pouches page.
Read next
Practice around goshuin and the books that hold them differs between shrines, temples and Buddhist schools. What follows is general orientation, not a rule. Notices posted on site and the guidance of the office there always take precedence. Nichiren-shu temples inscribe a goshuimon, and some will not write it into a book that already holds entries from elsewhere.
PR — This page contains promotional content
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a nokyocho and a goshuin book?
A nokyocho records the offering of a hand-copied sutra, and its pages usually follow the order of a particular circuit, with a separate book for each route. A goshuin book is a general-purpose blank book usable at shrines and temples alike.
Can I walk the Shikoku 88 with a goshuin book?
Most temples on the route will write into one. For walking the circuit through to the end, though, a nokyocho suits better: the order is fixed, so your progress and any gaps are visible at a glance.
What is a goshuimoncho?
A dedicated book for receiving the goshuimon, the daimoku Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, at Nichiren-shu temples. It has the same concertina form as a goshuin book but assumes it will not be mixed with entries from elsewhere.
A Nichiren-shu temple wrote only "myoho". Was I refused?
No. Writing the two characters rather than the full goshuimon into a book holding entries from elsewhere follows from how the school understands the inscription. Bring a separate goshuimoncho if you would like to receive the goshuimon itself.
Can I use a castle goshuin book alongside my goshuin book?
They look alike, but a castle book belongs to a different pursuit and is not intended to be mixed with a goshuin book. Keep them separate.