Robin Beck

Sorting out the Transfer "Dox"?

Question: How and when did the "Shuso Gosenge Kiroku" and the "Hakasho Mamorubeki Bancho no Koto" get from Omosu to Nishiyama?

Before one can begin to infer or conject, there is a lot of background. Like what is the "Shuso Gosenge Kiroku"?

The "Shuso Gosenge Kiroku" {Record of the Passing of the Founder} exists in the original at Nishiyama Honmon-ji, a Nikko lineage temple that is said to be the Head Temple of the Honmon Shu. The Kiroku is a detailed record of Nichiren's last days. It was recorded, signed, & sealed by Nikko. It also bears the co-signatures & seals of Nissho, Nichiro, and Nichiji.

More: The Real Transfer Dox

There were originally two Nikko Lineage Temples. These were Honmonji Kongen at Omosu, headed by Nikko himself; and Taisekiji, headed by Nichimoku. Consistent legends place the original transfer documents in a Treasure Box at Omosu. That 'box' is there now, but the "Shuso Gosenge Kiroku" is not.

So what is Nishiyama Honmonji and how did they get the original transfer documents?

First we need to discuss the founding of Omosu Honmonji Kongen. I look at various versions of that story here:

Omosu & Taisekiji

As the reader can see, the current English version of the "Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism" gives what is the modern Taisekiji position, assuming that has not changed recently. However, based on an independent translation, the newer SGI's "Great Dictionary of Buddhist Philosophy (the 3rd edition)" modifies that position considerably. It shall be interesting to see what happens if and when SGI does a new translation.

Posted by rbeck at May 19, 2006 07:17 AM