Nisshin was from the generation of Nichiren disciples that had no direct connection with the founder or those who did. As other charismatic leaders in the Muromachi period, Nisshin was greatly inspired by Nichiren, his endeavors and those of other disciples who did not spare their efforts to emulate him. Nisshin became very inspired by the actions of Jogyo'in Nichiyu, the third abbot of Hokekyoji. Nichiei as well as the fourth and fifth abbots at Hokekyoji have been very important for his upbringing as their own relationship to Nichiren was still concrete, albeit not direct. They had met a disciple of someone who actually knew Nichiren as it was the case of Nichiyu, a disciple of Nichiko who trained directly under Nichiren. The level of inspiration was still huge and even if the legends about Nisshin's ordeals were probably produced afterwards by his successors, he was definitively an iconic and charismatic preacher.