December 30, 2005
Unknown Mandalas?
Life and legends of Nichiren
Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
At Boso Hanto 1264-1267
Matsubagayatsu 1253-1258
The above looks like a simplified Mandala Gohonzon signed by Nichiren. It was labeled as a wood block print made in the 19th Century. The date of the original was given as March 20 1254. That is, of course, 17 years before the traditional First Gohonzon at Echi.
This mandala, below, appeared at an auction with an asking price of 800,000 US dollars:
The auction advertisement read: "Nichiren Daishonin while doing shugyo [ascetic training] at Nakayama Hokkeji wrote this real Gomandala and the same temple has preserved it."
We know that Nichiren was at Nakayama for a few months, 1260-1261; this was his "Flight from the Matsubagayatsu Persecution". He returned again in 1264 (Prolonged his Mother's life, "Komatsubara Persecution") and remained until 1267. It is said that he taught the ascetic training during the latter stay.
Toki Jonin founded the Hokke-do in 1260, which he later expanded and renamed Hokke-ji. A short time later Ohta Jomyo founded what would become Honmyoji. In 1545 the Hokkeji and the Honmyoji Temples were united as the Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple.
See also HOKEKYO-JI TEMPLE, OHTA INARI DAIMYOJIN, and Shochuzan Hokekyo-ji Temple
In response to an inquiry GohonzonInfo-owner replied:
"I blew up the scan, which was not terribly helpful since it was only 72 dpi and fuzzy to start with. I have become very familiar with Nichiren's style of brushwork from my work on his Gohonzons."
"My initial opinion is that if it's a forgery it's a good one, but the fact that the brocade is in such good condition makes me suspicious. That could have been replaced, of course, but if this has been kept by Nichiren devotees, they would have wanted to keep the original brocade intact."
"If I had to bet the farm, I'd say it's a forgery by a very good forger, but since I don't have to bet the farm, I'll just hope this turns out to be genuine and ends up with a believer instead of an art collector. And that someone sends me a scan I can work with."
As Don Ross, venerable host of Nichiren's Coffeehouse Gohonzon Shu, pointed out, [mandala] "numbers 19 to 23 have a similar construction, appear to be written around the same time (based on handwriting comparison), and 19 in particular is EXTREMELY SIMILAR."
Note that are four top row entries on the left, and three on the right {facing}. Also, Aizen & Fudo aren't there, the signature & seal are on opposite sides, and and the writing is cursive. These mandalas {19, 22, & 23} are all thought to have been drawn by Nichiren in 1275 at Minobu.
#019. dated January: no year giben, Kept at Myo{ ___ ?} Kyoto
#020. April 1275 (Bunei 12)
#021: No date; kept at Kamakura Myohonji
#022 & #023: No dates; Both Kept at Sado Myosenji Temple
Posted by rbeck at December 30, 2005 07:01 PM