December 15, 2005
The Lower Lower Left Side Memoranda
Memoranda & Dedications
Taisekiji's Tweaked Translations
The Ita-Dai-Go-Honzon Issue
From November 18, 2005
Upate 12-15-2005
On the majority of the Great Mandalas inscribed by Nichiren, there are two side entries on the bottom. The one on the lower left side {facing} is what I call, for lack of better terminology, the specific dedication; or memoranda, {memorandum?}. This entry usually tells the date {when} and, sometimes, the location {where} it was inscribed. It may also tell who received it, and why.
Here are some examples:
{1}. The Great Mandala designated "Shutei Honzon" or the "Gohonzon Authorized by the Nichiren Sect"
* "The 3rd month of the 3rd year of Koan, Kanoe-tatsu (1280)."
{2}. The Great Mandala issued to Nissho"For Transmitting the Dharma"
* "Third Year of Koan. Taisai Kanoetatsu. [Transmitted to the] son of Shakya, Nissho"
* "[Conferment]: Nissho, Sramana [Japanese: shomon] of the great sun country of Japan"
{4}. The SGI Nichikan Gohonzon:
The Memoranda reads: "Kore o shosha shi tatematsuru-I respectfully transcribed this. Nichikan." This is in an unusual position, inside Hachiman. There is no "Specific Dedication", or "Transmittal". These have been 'air-brushed' off. What SGI deleted from the original Gohonzon was:
* "This is conferred upon Daigyo Ajari Honshobo Nissho, of Honnyozan Joenji Temple of Kokusuri Village of Shimotsuke Province."
(5}. Other Dai Mandaras:
From Ryuei.net: "Nikko did leave four authentic Nichiren Omandalas at Kitayama Honmonji where he spent the rest of his life. Those Omandalas were eventually given to other Nikko lineage temples: Myokakuji in Kyoto, Honnoji in Kyoto, Honmonji in Kyoto, and Hokkeji in Kagawa Prefecture. On these, Nikko wrote:
* "Hanging it up in Honmonji, one should make it the esteemed jewel of the Latter Age."
{6}. The "Yashiro Kunishige Dai Mandara", aka "Ita Honzon", aka Taisekiji Dai Gohonzon.
I have seen many translations and partial translations of this lower left side inscription on the Taisekiji Great Mandala.
* "to be enshrined in the High Sanctuary of True Buddhism. " -- SGI
* "For the sake of your present and future lives, I have respectfully inscribed this Gohonzon for the High Sanctuary of True Buddhism. Requested by Yashiro Kunishige and the people of the Hokkeko. " -- Rev. Jisei Nagasaka
* "I have respectfully inscribed this Gohonzon for the High Sanctuary of the Original Gateway to the Buddha Realm for the sake of your present and future lives, at the request of Yashiro Kunishige and the people of Hokkeko." -- Rev. Jisei Nagasaka
*"This is the object of worship of true Buddhism. Name of applicant is Yashiro-Kunishige and the Hokkeko members". -- Rev. Dosho Sakata 10/8/94
* "The High Sanctuary of the Essential Teachings." -- Overseas Bureau of Nichiren Shoshu 1997
* "I have respectfully inscribed this Gohonzon for the High Sanctuary of the Original Gateway to the Buddha Realm for the sake of your present and future lives, at the request of Yashiro Kunishige and the people of Hokkeko." --www.nstny.org/
* "I have respectfully inscribed this Gohonzon for the High Sanctuary of the Original Portal to the Buddha Realm for the sake of your present and future lives, at the request of Yashiro Kunishige and the people of Hokkeko." " -- www.nstny.org/ --www.nstny.org/
* "...with great respect for the petitioner of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teachings, Yashiro Kunishige and the people of the Hokkeko-shu. "-- www.nstny.org/
I think it actually reads in part:
'Yashiro Kunishige Honmon-no-Kaidan-no-Ganshu-no-Hokke Shu.'
The term 'Gohonzon' is likely not there, but is inferred in some translations. It appears the mandala was for {in memory of} the petitioner, not the Kaidan. I read it that Yashiro Kunishige delivered a petition to the authorities, or planned to, for a Kaidan. Not that he petitioned Nichiren for a mandala.
"Hokkeko" is not there, the 'ko' is inferred, and is an anachronism. There was no Hokkeko in 1279. However, "Hokke Shu" was a term Nichiren used to indicate his school of thought.
Here is my translation:
... with respect to [in memory of] Petitioner Yashiro Kunishige {of the} Hokkeshu {who petitioned for the} Precept Platform of Honmon.
Posted by rbeck at December 15, 2005 08:46 AM