The founder of the sect is, in public manner, Jogyo Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Superior Practices) who was predicted in Hoke-kyo Sutra (the Lotus Sutra) to save the end of the world, and in private manner, Kuon Ganjo no Jiju Yushin (Buddha of beginningless time) (that is to say, gohonbutsu (the principle image)).
宗祖は、外用としては法華経に予証された末法の世を救う上行菩薩であり、その内証は久遠元初の自受用報身（すなわち御本仏）である。