December 11, 2005
Taisekiji's Early History
The Fuji School
Nikko apparently left Minobu and returned 'home' to Mt. Fuji in late 1288. He was accompaned by some key followers, several of whom had been players during the Atsuhara Persecutions. According to some records, he took along a mandala called the "Dai-Honzon" and a statue of Nichiren. Reliable authorities differ on which mandala and which statue.
All seem to agree that Taisekiji was founded in December of 1290 or 1291. There are disagreements on where and as to who exactly was the founding sponsor. Most agree that it was sponsored by Nanjo Tokimitsu {Nanjo Shichiro-Jiro Taira no Tokimitsu} (1259-1332) and constructed at its present site, on Nanjo's family clan's lands at Ueno. Others say it was sponsored by Nichimoku's family clan, built on their estate, and moved to its present location in the 17th Century. Nichimoku was maternally related to Nanjo, so it is likely the two clans had cordial relations at that time.
There is general agreement that Nikko had 6 major disciples who resided at Taisekiji. The lists I have seen vary a bit. The best I can come up with is:
Nisshu (????-1329){Shimotsuke-bo}
Nichizen (????-1331) {Sho-bo}
Nikke (1252-1334) {Rikyo-bo}
Nichimoku (1260-1333) {Renzo-bo}
Nissen (1262-1357) {Hyakkan-bo or Joren-bo}
Nichizon (1265-1345){Kujo-bo}
Several of these are credited with founding Lodging Temples on the grounds, which still bear their "nick names".
According to most accouts, Nikko transferred the position of Taisejiji Abbot to Renzo-bo Nichimoku in 1290, soon after the temple's consecration, via the Ozagawari Gohonzon. And indeed, the Ozagawari Gohonzon remains a prized teasure of Taisekiji to this day. Soon after installing Renzo-bo Nichimoku as the Chief Abbot of Taisekiji, Nikko departed for the town of Omosu, in 1291.
The Taisekiji Account differs sharply. They have Nikko staying at Taisekiji until 1298. They also apparently maintain he retained the position of Taisejiji Abbot, in absentia, until November of 1332. He then transfered the position of High Priest of the Hokke Shu, the Abbotship of Taisekiji, the Daigohonzon of 1279, and some unnamed documents of 1282, via the "Nikko Ato Jojo no Koto" (Articles to Be Observed after Nikko's Death).
Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Bureau Web Site
Nichiren Shoshu Links
Taiseki-ji ; full name, Tahō Fuji Dainichirenge-zan Taiseki-ji) is the head temple (sōhonzan) of the Nichiren Shoshu school of the Nichiren branch of Japanese Buddhism. It is located on the lower slopes of Mt. Fuji in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. -- Taiseki-ji From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Nichiren Shoshu views Nikkō as the sole legitimate successor to Nichiren and therefore the high priest of the school. This is based on a document dated the ninth lunar month of 1282 called the Nichiren ichigo guhō fuzoku-sho ("Document assigning all the teachings spread by Nichiren during his lifetime"). -- Nikko (priest)
Posted by rbeck at December 11, 2005 04:01 PM