June 21, 2006
Myohokkeji Nichiren Portrait 14th Century
Updated 06-09-2006
Tamazawa Myohokkeji, which was founded by Nissho in 1284, is also home to at least Four {4} original Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon(s).
Statues, Drawings, & Paintings of Nichiren
This painting is dated to the late Kamakura Era, the early 14th Century {1300's}.
It is kept at Myohokkeji Temple Tamazawa, Mishima City, Izu, Shizuoka. Myohokkeji was originally Nissho's Hokkeji Temple at Hama, Kamakura. Nissho took up residence at Hama after Tatsunokuchi. Hokkeji was officially founded by Nissho in 1284 and transfered to a Nichiyu in 1317. The Temple was moved to Izu and renamed Myohokkeji by Oman-no-kata in 1621.
Myohokkeji is home to Six {6} National Treasures of Japan.
Note that I am reading and trying to interpret from a Japanese Web Page. These national treasures appear to include:
1. The Ministers' Quarters
2. What are likely scrolls of a version of the Senji Sho.
3. Nichiren's annotated scrolls of the Lotus Sutra {Chu Hokekyo}, See Also Distribution of the Mementos?.
4. An early Pictorial Mandala Gohonzon.
5. Statues of Guardian Deities?
6. The early 14th Century {1300s} Painting of Nichiren.
Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
Myohokkeji houses Four {4} authenticated original Nichiren Gohonzons. These are:
*The Nichiren Prayer Gohonzon aka Medicine Mandala of April 1276 (Kenji 2), #37 in the Gohonzon Shu, conferred upon Nissho. See Also Coffeehouse
*Mandala #62 dated April 8, 1279 (Koan 2). See Also Coffeehouse
*Mandala #78 {no info} See Also Coffeehouse
*The Great Mandala for Transmitting the Dharma issued to Nissho in the 11th month of 1280; #101 in the Gohonzon Shu See Also Coffeehouse
The Painting
I am told the painting represents a recollection of Nichiren teaching the Lotus Sutra to a son of Lord Hakiri {aka Hakii Rokuro Sanenaga, Nambu Sanenaga, or Nichien Nyudo} and wife, at Minobu-san Kounji, in 1281 or 1282.
Also, note that the Gohonzon in the painting is a Shakyamuni Statue flanked by standing statues of the Four Boddhisattvas of the Earth. There is a record that Toki Jonin had such a statue arrangement at Nakayama before 1280.
Dr. Stone wrote:
"The "one Buddha and four attendants" came into fairly widespread use among Nichiren's followers as a honzon almost immediately after his death. There was also a more complex configuration consisting of the two Buddhas, Sakyamuni and Many Jewels, seated together in the jeweled stupa and flanked by the four bodhisattvas (itto ryoson shishi). The earliest attested grouping was made by Jogyoin Nichiyu (1298-1374) of the Nakayama lineage in 1335."
See: See Dr Stone on the Gohonzon -- Download .pdf @ Dharma_Study_Group. Also, for discussions of Nichiren related art {and more}, pleae check out: nichirenpix · Nichiren Buddhist Art & Culture . To access the web features of nichirenpix and Dharma_Study_Group, one must join with a valid Yahoo ID. See Yahoo! Groups
Posted by rbeck at February 20, 2006 09:49 PM
Posted by rbeck at June 21, 2006 12:49 AM