Robin Beck

Nichiren's Childhood

Life and legends of Nichiren

"... data for Nichiren's early years, a formative period, are extremely limited." -- from Biographical Studies of Nichiren by Jacqueline Stone.

Zennichi (Nichiren as a child) was raised near the fishing village of Kominato in eastern Awa Province of Boso Peninsula. He was the fourth child of Shigetada and Umegiku Nukina. I have been unable to locate any information about his older brothers. Nor do I know if there were other siblings.

According to some sources, his family was descended from Emperor Shomu. His Father is said to have been a samurai from Nukina in Enshu. Before Zennichi was born he had been exiled to Awa and supported his family by fishing.

Of his own birth, Nichiren wrote “Nichiren ... in this life was born poor and lowly to a sendara {chandala} family.” Chandala is an Indic word that refers to hunters, fishers, or butchers, et cetera. In the Vedic caste system of ancient India, the Chandala were considered untouchable; lower than the lowest sudra caste.

It does appear his family was well connected. His parents were apparently educated and were friends with the hereditary estate proprietor, known to us as “Oama (Elder Nun),” “The Lady of the Manor,” or “The Lay Nun of Ryoke”. Her domain had likely included Seichoji Ternple at Mount Kiyosumi, Futama Temple, and the Tensho Daijin/Ise Shrine-Temple at Tojo Village. Possibly Renge-ji Temple at Hanabusa as well. Oama’s husband was husband was Hojo Tomotoki {1193-1245}, the feudal lord or Steward {Jito} of Nagasa District in Awa.

In the year 1184, Minamoto-no-Yoritomo had moved Tensho Daijin’s shrine out of Ise to Tojo Village in Awa Province. Nichiren saw this as significant. He would write, "Of all the many places in Japan, Nichiren was born in the province of Awa. It is said that when the Sun Goddess discovered the land of Japan, she first dwelt in Awa Province. The shrine of the Sun Goddess stands in Awa. This goddess is the merciful parent of the entire nation, so this province must be of great significance.”

Most of the Boso peninsula is hilly, with some points as high as 400 m above sea level. Awa province is on the tip of the Boso peninsula and was bordered by Kazusa province. There are lots of loquat orchards and meadows blanketed with flowers in spring. The loquat fruit is said to have been Zennichi’s favorite. Loquat grow in clusters.They are described as oval, rounded or pear-shaped, and one to two inches long; with a smooth or downy, yellow or orange, sometimes red-blushed skin. The succulent, tangy flesh is said to be sweet to acidic.

"Near the warm and peaceful village of Kominato, Zennichi-maro quickly grew up, surrounded by the profound love of his mother and father. Zen-nichi-maro was different from the other village children in the way he played, his attitudes and behavior." -- NST

It is said that Zennichi was different as a child; larger of build and emotionally more mature than others his age. He was also kinder and more thoughtful. For example, he collected sea shells and took meticulous care of them. At play, he was sensitive toward other living creatures. When Zennichi was 3 or 4 years old, some of his friends devised a cruel game. They had caught and killed some sparrows; by baiting the birds with rice cakes placed on a branch of a willow tree.

Zennichi taught his playmates not to heedlessly kill anmals by telling them a tale he learned from his parents. An old man caught a sea turtle and was about to kill it. A noble saw this and felt pity; so he gave the man clothing to spare the turtle. Later, the noble’s child fell into the sea. Sea Turtles saved the child by appearing and supporting her on their backs.

Zennichi was also fond of nori, an edible seaweed also known as laver. Many years later, Nichiren mentioned this in a letter to Niiama Gozen. Niiama {younger nun} was the daughter-in-law of Oama. Nichiren may have known her since they were children. He wrote her a Mandala Gohonzon in 1275.

"I would also like to express my appreciation for the offering of sea laver [better known as nori] from Oama. Climbing the peak, it looks as if seaweed were growing there, but instead you find only an expanse of ferns. Going down to the valley, you think surely it must be laver {nori} growing there, but it is only a dense growth of parsley." -- Reply to Niiama {Written to Nii-ama Gozen on 16 February 1275 from Minobu}

Another translation: "When I clamber eagerly up the mountain, thinking I have seen wakame growing, it is only bracken that grows there, row upon row. When I climb down to the valleys thinking I have seen nori growing, again I am mistaken: it is only parsley that sprawls in thick clumps. I had long forgotten my native village, but the nori you sent brought sad memories rushing over me." -- “Ueno ama gozen gohenji” (Showa teihon Nichiren shonin ibun 1971, vol. 2, pp. 1890-94). from: Nichiren and Setsuwa by Laurel Rasplica Rodd.

Nori can be cooked in soup or served like spinach. It is also dried in thin sheets and toasted before eating. The sheets are often used to roll maki, a popular form of sushi. In Japan, sushi is made of vinegar seasoned rice with many different toppings, fillings, or wraps. These might include sesame seed, hot mustard, seafood, meat, vegetables, pickles, mushrooms, eggs, nori, fried tofu, or ravioli-like pasta.

“For the twelve years that Zennichi-maro grew up under the care of his mother and father, ... Japan was enduring ... immense unseasonable snow storms,flooding, meteorites and widespread famine....The [sensitive and wise] heart...of Zennichi-maro began to ponder the reason for the cause of the peoples suffering.” -- NST

“[His] common birth probably reinforced his identification with the founder of Japanese Tendai, Dengyo Daishi, (the founder of the “Hokke” or “Tendai” School and the man he considered his real mentor) -- who also had to struggle with origins outside of the elites of Japan.” -- Christopher Holte

"From the time he was a young child, there was no person throughout the village and area surrounding Kominato that didn't know of Zennichi-maro's excellence in learning. Leaving home to pursue his studies, Zennichi-maro cherished the great aspiration of someday becoming 'the wisest man in Japan'." -- NST

“At the age of 11, Nichiren Shonin’s bright and questioning mind attracted the attention of the lady of the local manor for whom his father worked. Her patronage enabled him to enter the local Seichoji Temple (also called Kiyosumidera), where he could receive an education and begin his quest for his many questions about life.” -- Ryuei Michael McCormick

Posted by rbeck at November 30, 2006 09:00 AM