October 10, 2006
Minobu: Nichiren & the Red Dragon
Life and legends of Nichiren
At Minobu 1274-1282
Shichimen Daimyojin
When Nichiren would conduct services and deliver sermons, on the Lotus Sutra, at Mount Minobu; a beautiful, regally dressed maiden often appeared, and listened intently. This created quite a stir. One day, Nichiren paused to enquire who she was, where she was from, and why she was there. She replied that she was a 'hiten' {or ten-nyo}, a kind of celestial nymph, and that she dwelt in a pond at Mount Shichimen. She explained that it was her wish to repent her sins and take faith in the Dharma Flower Sutra; so that she might overcome all manner of sorrow and suffering.
However, Nichiren suspected that she was really a being he had met before. So he surreptitiously held up a shiny vase, to serve as a mirror. Her reflection on the surface revealed that she was actually a shichimen, a red dragon with seven {7} heads. Nichiren then asked her to return to her pond and serve as the Daimyojin, or guardian deity of Kuonji. Having been exposed and shamed, she humbly complied with the Shonin's request.
Another version: While Nichiren was conducting services, a dragon in a dark cloud emerged from the body of a woman who had disturbed his devotions.
This tale is an example of Shinto-Buddhist fusion; with the Shinto kami/jin serving as protectors of the Buddha Dharma. In the oldest form, this is known as Ryobu Shinto or Shingon-Shinto Honji Suijaku, which is a fusion of Mikkyo with Shinto. However, many Nichiren Temples will also have shrines or halls dedicated to kami; and this is known as Hokke-Shinto Honji Suijaku. These beings are not actually worshipped, not in the western sense; although their beneficial power is invoked, and prayers of appreciation are apparently offered to them.
In the story, a Shichimen {or hichimen, a seven headed dragon} tries to pose as a kind of Buddhist celestial maiden-nymph-angel, known as hiten or shiten {femimine -- ten-nyo}. From what I can gather, these celestial mermaid, faerie, or cherub-like beings dwell in the Heaven of the Four Guardian Kings; which is the lowest of the Six Heavens in Realm of Kama {Lusty Desire}.
At least one source dates this legend to October of 1277. Of course, some of the versions that I have read make mention of Kuonji, which was not constructed on Minobu until November of 1281. It might be that this story incorporates several legends and blends them into one.
*Link: Legends of the Dragon Goddess
October 30, 2005 04:48 AM
Posted by rbeck at October 10, 2006 01:19 AM
But have you ever seen a chinese or Japanese or indeed and asian depiction of a dragon with wings?
I have never seen one...
In any case the dragon in the picture is in no way an eastern dragon.
Jussi.
Posted by: jussi at October 31, 2005 05:22 PMYinglung was a dragon believed to be a powerful servant of Huang Di, the yellow emperor, who was later immortalized as a dragon. One legend states that Yinglong helped a man named Yu stop the yellow river from flooding by digging long channels with his tail.
The Yinglung is the oldest of all eastern dragons. Once all dragons reach a certain age, they develop wings.
"Thanks Robin for restoring the post- I could not see it here when I posted it...I thought you had started deleting negative opinions."
No. I did not delete it, nor restore it. It is still where you posted it too. Look in:
October 26, 2005
Nichiren at Kashiwazaki
r
Posted by: robin at October 30, 2005 06:28 AMAfter I wrote the previous i searched for some info on google and it came up with some pages form wikipedia which give a very good , I htought, explanation of the dirrent types and their functions (for those who might actually be interested):
Chinese Dragon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon
Western Dragon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_dragon
Jussi.
Posted by: jussi at October 30, 2005 04:59 AMThe point is I was not making a comment against East West fusion as such. It has a place such as in fusion cuisine... ;)
However the types of architypes, if you like, represent something altogether different and are not compatible.
The western "Welsh" dragon which has large or small wings (depending on the depiction) comes from a christian mythology - possibly earlier western one too- while the role of the eartern one is rather different and common one used in most East Asian cultures especially. The western one shares many similarities with the early christian portraits of their devils and demons who often tended to have wings and tails. Personally I find the western one slightly unp;leasant a character and the eastern one much more dignified and even happy looking.
The dragon of the east might be somewhat scary looking too but has a more positive function. There might have been and most likely was some influence from the east in the emergence of the dragon in the west as the being is similar in looks but the western one went on to develop into an entirely different "beast".
There is universal meaning in both and by identifying the original cultural resemblance does not take from that and thus stories such as the Dargon King and his daughter are applicable as an inspiration and example to us all.
The chinese dragon and the japanese one are different as well but the difference is minimal and thus they depict the same thing pretty much. They have a different number of toes ; 0
Of course as with mythological beings also some real animals look distictly different from their real life counterpart for instance in Japanese Buddhist art when they drew an elephant. They had never seen one and so relied on written explanations and drew based on that adding their own imagination to it.
But all this is quite different to some rather crude photoshopping as seems to be the case in these depictions of a photo of a Nichiren Statue (has the 'artist' got permission of the photographer to use their photo in their works?) and the welsh dragon.
To avoid confusion when illustrating an eastern event or myth I always feel it is best to stick to presentation which complements it.
This is all of course just a personal opinion and thus does not represent any thinking of my school or somesuch.
Thanks Robin for restoring the post- I could not see it here when I posted it...I thought you had started deleting negative opinions.
Jussi.
Posted by: jussi at October 30, 2005 04:48 AM"Don: Duh... and it was created in the West too. East-West fusion, what a concept! (Nice to see you Jussi. ;-)"
Me: More synchronicity. The underlying topic was Shinto-Buddhist fusion. Jussi and his sect apparently like that, but seem to frown upon East-West Fusion.
r
Jussi: 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.
Don: Duh... and it was created in the West too. East-West fusion, what a concept! (Nice to see you Jussi. ;-)
Posted by: Don Ross at October 29, 2005 04:50 PM"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 get can back going with it.
BTW, Shakyamuni looks Greek in Central Asian Art, and Chinese in East Asia.
I assume Jussi intended this here: r
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.
Posted by: jussi at October 28, 2005 07:10 PM
Posted by: robin at October 29, 2005 04:51 AM