Robin Beck

Aizen & Fudo Kankenki of 1254

Life and legends of Nichiren
On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin

The Aizen Kankenki and Fudo Kankenki, #124 & 125 in the Gohonzon Shu, are a set of two amulets or mandaras written by Nichiren on June 25, 1254. According to Nichiren, the two esoteric Divinities had visited him in a dream or vision.

The inscriptions {translation by Eddy} read:

“Behold worshipfully, the living embodiment of Aizen/Fudo Myo-ou.

From Dainichi Nyorai, culminating in Nichiren,

twenty three eras of legitimate inheritance.

The twenty fifth day of the sixth month, the sixth year of Kencho ( 1254 ).
Nichiren confers to the New Buddha.”

The "Pedigree" of the Aizen & Fudo Kankenki

In 1334, after the passing of Nitta Nichimoku , Nitta Nichido, who was Nichimoku's nephew, became the Chief Priest of Taisekiji. However, Saisho Nichigo, with the support of the Nanjo Clan, received the deed to Nichimoku's Residential Temple, the Renzo-bo, thought to be at Koizumi Village. Nichido also received several treasures. It now appears these must have included:

***The Dai-Honzon of 1274; Mandala #016 ... see also: The Actual Dai-[Go]-Honzon?
***An image of Nichiren.
***Copies {prints?} of the Aizen & Fudo Kankenki.
***Mandala Gohonzon # 004

Nichigo founded a seminary at Koizumi and then left for Awa, where he founded Hota Myohon-ji Temple. According to various accounts, he would later return to Koizumi and enshrine the image of Nichiren. His eventual successor, Nanjo Nichiden {1340(?)-1416}, a grandson of Tokimitsu, founded Koizumi Kuon-ji there, in 1409. Mandala Gohonzon # 004 is currently housed at Koizumi Kuon-ji.

The Dai-Honzon of 1274 and the copies of the Aizen & Fudo Kankenki apparently remain at Hota Myohon-ji to this day. Untll recently, the Aizen & Fudo Kankenki were assumed to be forgeries, since there were no known originals. Moreover, they seemed to conflict with perceptions of Nichiren's views on Mikkyo.

Then, about 20 years ago, an obscure temple at Yokohama; Kuon Jyozai-in Honmonji. produced the originals. The Aizen & Fudo Kankenki were "newly authenticated and added to the Gohonzonshu in the 1999 edition." It is interesting that the same temple also owns an old wooden transcription of the 1274 Daihonzon. According to Honmon Shoshu, Nichiu took these items from Taisekiji, circa 1483, and hid them at Ide's Cave. Nichiu was a Chief Priest of Taisekiji and proponent of the "Nichiren as True Buddha" concept.

Honmon Shoshu:

My present understanding is that Honmon Shoshu claims to be the lineage of Nichimoku. The head temple of Honmon Shoshu is Fujisan Kuon Jyozai-in (Taihei Kyodan) Honmonji. Honmon Shoshu should NOT be confused with the Honmon Shu branch of the Fuji School at Nishiyama. There are at least three temples called Fujisan Honmonji. Honmon Shoshu is associated with one of these. The others are the Nikko/Nichiren Shu Kitayama/Omosu Fujisan-Honmonji, and the Nichidai/Honmon Shu Nishiyama Fujisan-Honmonji.

Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o

Aizen and Fudo are 2 of 8 esoteric Vidya-Raja {Knowlege kings/Myo-O} associated with the Prajna {Wisdom} and Vajra {Tantric, Mikkyo} teachings of Buddhism. In one sense, their frightening appearence serves to scare unprepared neophytes away from the deepest secrets of the Dharma.

"Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o are sometimes identified with the Ni-o, the Two Kings, who are a dual form of Mahavairochana Tathagata (Dainichi Nyorai), who is a personification of the Dharmakaya or universal body of the Buddha. As such, Fudo Myo-o represents the element of spirit or mind, the Diamond World Mandala, and subjective wisdom; while Aizen Myo-o represents the five elements of earth, air, fire, water, and space, as well as the Womb World Mandala, and objective truth. Together the pair represent all of the things which are united in the universal life of the Buddha - body and mind, wisdom and truth, and the two mandalas. The Two Kings are often found guarding the main gates to temple and monasteries as fierce giant warriors."-- Ryuei

Says the Flammarion Iconograhic Guide [of the Nio]: "These two guardian kings are Vajradharas (lit. holders of vajras, thunderbolt holders, called Shukongo-jin in Japan). Or they may be a type of Raksa (man-eating demons of Indian folklore). In Esoteric Buddhism, they represent two aspects of Vairocana (Dainichi Nyorai). In this respect, they are sometimes confused with the wrathful forms of Fudo Myoo and Aizen Myoo. Although similar to these latter forms, they are in fact distinct from them." Onmark Nio

In Japanese Buddhism, Aizen and Fudo are mainly associated with the Shingon Shu as well the Mikkyo elements of other Schools. The Myo-o served as messengers of Dainichi Buddha, who the Shingon School regarded as the Dharmakaya Buddha, as well as the Eternal Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra.

In Nichiren's time, Ryobu Shinto, a Shinto-Buddhist Fusion form of Mikkyo, was influential within the Jimon Tendai, Shingon-Ritsu, and Sen'nyuji-Shingon Schools; all of which had a strong presence in Kamakura City, and 'pull' with the ruling Hojo Clan. The Kankenki definitely show that Nichiren was at least influenced by these Kamakura Era trends in Mikkyo thought.

Apparently, in some sense, Nichiren viewed the Shinto Sun Goddess, Tensho Daijin or Amaterasu Omikami, as a manifestation of Dainichi Buddha. However, especially in his later years, it appears that Nichiren sought to distance himself from the more extreme interpretations promoted by some adherents of the Shingon Shinto-Buddhist fusion known as Ryobu Shinto. At any rate, the Nichiren form of Ryobu Shinto is known as Hokke Shinto.

For more Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o :
***Onmark
***Ryuei

More on the Kankenki & Esotericism in Nichiren's thought:
***Aizen Kankenki @ the Coffehouse
***Fudo Kankenki @ the Coffeehouse
***Honmon Shoshu perspective
***PDF Lucia DOLCE Nichiren’s Attitude toward Esoteric Buddhism
***Secret Transmissions in the Hokkeshu by Dr. Jacquie Stone

A brief backgound of events in Nichiren's life up to 1254:

Nichiren was born Zennichimaro, a poor fisherman's son, in 1222. He was raised in a small village on Boso Peninsula. Boso Hanto is across Tokyo bay from modern Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kamakura. Despite Zennichi's humble beginnings, an influential benefactor got him admitted to a Tendai-Shingon Temple called Seichoji, for training as a Buddhist Minister. He was given the novice Dharma Name Yakuobo. He completed his studies in 1237, was ordained, and given the name Zeshobo Rencho.

Rencho next studied at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu-ji Buddhist Temple-Shinto Shrine in Kamakaura, from 1238 to 1242. He then returned to Seichoji, where he wrote the Kaitai Sokushin Jobutsugi, or "The Precepts of Buddhism are Equal to Attaining Buddhahood in One's Present Form". The same year he traveled to Kyoto, where he studied at Hiezan Enryakuji, the head temple of the Tendai Shu. He was to remain in the Kansai region for more than a decade. During that time he studied at the prominent temples of Nara, Mt. Koya, Osaka, & Kyoto.

In 1253, he returned to Seichoji, changed his name to Nichiren, and announced the founding of the Dharma Flower School (Hokke Shu), as a sub-school of Tendai. This is known as the Rissho Declaration. He proclaimed the Invocation of the Title of the Lotus Sutra, Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo, as the Mantra for the Latter Days. He also denounced the popular fiorms of Rinzai-Zenshu and Jodo Shu, as well as the esoteric Shingon Shu. This act of perceived arrogance got him nearly killed, and effectively exiled from his home turf.

Nichiren then fled to Kamakura. There he set up a small hermitage in Matsu-baga-yatsu Valley, of the developing Nagoe Hills area. Soon after Nichiren had settled in Kamakura, a Tendai priest came to visit him, and became his disciple. The name of the visitor was Jôben, a classmate of Nichiren at Hieizan. Nichiren named him Nisshô. In 1254, Nissho's youthful nephew, Nichiro, became Nichiren's disciple; and Toki Jonin became a prominent lay follower.

Posted by rbeck at April 21, 2005 06:06 AM Revised & Updated 08-30-2006

Posted by rbeck at September 4, 2006 08:43 AM