September 13, 2007
Nichiren, Myokoji, and the Shichimen Cave. October 27 1271
Life and Legends of Nichiren
Sado Exile
Shichimen
Statues, Drawings, & Paintings of Nichiren
This legend relates to the Sado Exile. Following the Tatsu-no-kuchi incident, Nichiren was sentenced to exile at Sado Island. He was taken from Echi City in Sagami Province to Teradomari in Echigo Province. They arrived at Teradomari, on the western coast of Honshu, on October 21 1271. 
Due to foul weather, their departure by boat was delayed until October 27. Then. during the journey to Sado, they encountered a wind storm; which sprang up from the Northwest. The wind blew the boat back to the southeast; and they eventually drifted ashore at Kakuda Beach, a location SWW of Teradomari, I think nnear Kashiwazaki.
Nichiren was approached by local inhabitants. They recognized that Nichiren was a shonin or holy man, so they sought his assistance. They told him that an evil dragon {Shichimen, Sitimen, Hitimen, or a seven or eight headed serpent} had been plaguing them. He was able to determine that the evil dragon resided in a deep, dark, creepy, mysterious cavern. 
The cave was/is located where Mountains rise from Kakuda Beach, not far from the shore where the boat had landed.
The inhabitants built him a 
'daimoku-do' {prayer hut}, where he is said to have chanted Daimoku through the night, and then engraved the Daimoku on a shell shaped rock. The rock serves as record of the event. Nichiren later entered the cave and subdued the serpent or dragon,. The evil dragon then repented, and agreed to serve as the Daimyojin {guardian deity} for the village? Moreover, the wind storm died down, enabling the boat to depart for Sado.
Apparently, the rock Nichiren engraved remains near the entrance to the cave. If I understand correctly, Kakuda Niigata Myoko-ji Temple is now located in the Mountains, with a view of the kakuda beach. The cave appears to be a sacred site of sorts, one that attracts visitors in the form of pilgrims and tourists. By the way, the entrance is larger than it looks in the photo. Also, IIRC, the "Bank of the Daimoku" Nichiren statue {see below} is located near the entrance.
Time Line
1271
Oct. 21: Arrives at Teradomari.
Oct. 27: Departs Teradomari by boat & arrives at Sado.
Nov. 01: Arrives at Tsukahara, Sado Island. {Niibe}
The source for this legend is in Japanese; so I apologize for any errors in my retelling. -- robin
"This is a great resource of Nichiren and Sado material. ...Thanks a lot for your Links, Robin san!" --GABI
Links > F. Sado Island > kashiwazaki echigo niigata
sitimenndaimyoujin
Daimoku-do
kisinodaimoku
Originally Posted by rbeck at October 26, 2005 07:28 PM
Posted by rbeck at October 7, 2006 07:28 PM
"Okay...what does this mythologic image represent? A seven headed dragon living in a cave that Nichiren subdues? We know dragons symbolize rain/clouds - but when I read this description, it sounds as if he, like a cermonial magician, went into a cave and gained control of some supernatural forces that were assailing the locals. Some people are literalists - some read the myths - some attempt to combine the two. What does this myth mean, Robin?"
One night, years ago, I was walking a young lady home, when we were confronted by a large, snarling, teeth bared German Shepherd. I was petrified. She knelt on one knee and greeted the beast. The dog wagged its tail, came over, gently nuzzled her, gave me a dirty look, and left.
The cave = Alaya. The evil 7 headed dragon = the 7th Consciousness, the fearful ego. The shore = amala, awakening.
robin
"Just to point out a minor detail. The dragon used by that indie "artist" in their collage pictures is a western one. The dragon of the east does not have wings and thus these "works" look very odd to me" Jussi.
LOL. Thanks for mentioning that. Donna Millar's art, which I have permission to use, is "kewl" and eclectic. I hope she can back going with it.
BTW, Shakyamuni looks Greek in Central Asian Art, and Chinese in East Asia.
mettawaves to you too; fussy & cranky old Jussi :)
robin
Posted by: robin at October 29, 2005 01:45 AMJust to point out a minor detail. The dragon used by that indie "artist" in their collage pictures is a western one. The dragon of the east does not have wings and thus these "works" look very odd to me.
Jussi.
Posted by: jussi at October 28, 2005 07:10 PMThe Kishimo & Shichimen myths replay in several Nichiren legends. Nippo, who carved statues of Nichiren, is connected with the dragon goddess Shichimen.
Kishimo came into play with Matsu-baga-yatsu & Komatsubara. I was surprized to find Shichimen in a Kashiwazaki legend. She shows up at Minobu next.
Anyway, the real estate or tourism company that had this stuff up on line apparently took it down. I wanted to get a record of it before I forgot what the pix were.
Did you click the pic of the kishimodaimoku? I was trying to make out the kanji. Do you think nichiren really engraved that rock?
Was Nichiren tapping super, meta, or preter natural forces? Is this symbolic imagery? Was he doing magic tricks to get people to listen? All of the above?
Tonight I might post the legend of Nichiren and the Cormorant Fisherman. On these legends, I am just reporting. :)r
BTW, Makiguchi was from Kashiwazaki
.
Robin:
Okay...what does this mythologic image represent? A seven headed dragon living in a cave that Nichiren subdues? We know dragons symbolize rain/clouds - but when I read this description, it sounds as if he, like a cermonial magician, went into a cave and gained control of some supernatural forces that were assailing the locals. Some people are literalists - some read the myths - some attempt to combine the two. What does this myth mean, Robin?
Charles
Posted by: Charles at October 27, 2005 03:21 PM