On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
The Ita-Dai-Go-Honzon Issue
From May 25, 2005
Update 12-16-2005
To be Revised
"...with great respect for the petitioner of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teachings, Yashiro Kunishige and the people of the Hokkeko-shu.
So Just WHO WAS Yashiro Kunishige? According to Nichiko Hori, former Chief Priest of Nichiren Shoshu: "I do not know the basis for the matter of Yashiro Kunishige." --Nichiko
From:
Soka Gakkai International
"Recently we had a meeting and it was said that Yashiro is a combination of the three Atsuhara martyrs names, Jinshiro, Yagoro, and Yarokuro. " --
Nittasu Shonin, former Chief Priest of Taisekiji: "As long as it is a historical fact that Nichiren Daishonin inscribed this Gohonzon in October 1279, in conjunction with the Atsuhara Incident, there is no doubt that the Daishonin has Atsuhara martyrs in mind as the recipients of this Gohonzon. If we seek to find the name of Yashiro among the Atsuhara farmers in historical records, we can come across several Yashiros among the believers of the Daishonin's time. And Jinshiro and his younger brother Yagoro played a major role in the Atsuhara Incident. In this regard, we can assert that Jinshiro was exactly the very person Nichiren Daishonin meant by Yashiro." -- Nittatsu
{According to Nittatsu, the character jin can be construed to have been used as an honorific expression on behalf of the character ya.}
Josei Toda, Second President of Soka Gakkai: "Some slanderous people say: 'The recipient of the Dai-Gohonzon is Yashiro Kunishige. But such a person did not exist among the Hokke fraternities.' Some regard him as one of the three Atsuhara martyrs, while others assert that he is a son of Lord Nanjo. However, many agree that it is a fictitious name, which makes sense to me.
"The question is why Nichiren Daishonin chose Yashiro Kunishige as the recipient of the Dai-Gohonzon. You cannot uderstand this question unless you are deeply versed in Buddhism. It does not make sense to those who have not mastered Buddhist views. However, once you fully understand the essence of Buddhism, this riddle becomes an easy question.
"Some wonder: 'Since the Daishonin entrusted the Dai-Gohonzon upon Nikko Shonin, why didn't he choose Nikko Shonin as its recipient?' It is because if Nichiren Daishonin had chosen Nikko Shonin, the Dai-Gohonzon could not be said to have been inscribed for all humanity. The 'Gohonzon for All Humanity' is something that should be conferred upon the person who propagates Nam-myoho-renge-kyo throughout the world and builds a high sanctuary in the future by spreading it first in Japan….
"In the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni talks to Shariputra who is already deceased. He could do so because he was talking to Shariputra within his own life…. In a like manner, Yashiro Kunishige represents all those who propagate the Lotus Sutra. In other words, he is Yashiro Kunishige within the life of Nichiren Daishonin. Yashiro Kunishige does not have to denote a historical figure. There is no problem at all even if he did not exist historically. "
"It is a scientific approach to examine the matter historically and conclude that things should be this way or that. From a Buddhist perspective, however, since Nichiren Daishonin dedicated the Dai-Gohonzon to Yashiro Kunishige within his own life, Yashiro signifies an ideal individual, an ideal votary of the Lotus Sutra. In this regard, whether he actually existed in the past or not does not matter" -- Josei Toda
Honmon Shoshu:
Yakushi from ARBN Download file
Eddy Chai's Commentary from Gohonzon Forum Download file
Honmon Shoshu Yashirou & Jinshirou Memorial Mandaras Link
I do not know if Nichiren inscribed the Yashiro Kunishige Daimandara. He could very well have. It is not like the inscription of each mandala was recorded. It might also be a pious forgery, based on the Jinshiro Memorial Daimandara of 1308 that Nikko inscribed. Whichever, it appears to be dedicated to a martyr named Yashiro, and a prefectly good honzon.
My feeling is that the blessing/curse of Kishimjin phrases make perfect sense for a Great Mandala dedicted to those who were willing to give up their life, rather than quitting the practice. [There is some doubt that they really appear in the Ita Honzon at Taisekiji.]
In this context, there is an authenticated Gosho which refers to an actual martyr named Yashiro. A Yashiro was executed around August of 1279. And this Yashiro was maybe a court noble, or a samurai, so he would have had a surname? He had housed the three Atshhara-Ryusenji Priests, to protect them from Hei-no-Saemon. It is certainly possible Nichiren wrote a memorial great mandala for him.
Posted by rbeck at December 16, 2005 08:34 AM