Robin Beck

Nichiren Image at Hokkeji in Matsumae

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" ... when Nichiji was 45 years old, he set out on a journey to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra abroad. ... It is thought that [he] crossed the Tsugaru Straits on to Ezo (Hokkaido) where he is ... said to have founded the temples of Myo'oji at Ishizaki in Hakodate City, Hokkeji in Matsumae, and Myokenji in the village of Toda-hokke. " -- from Nichiji Shonin, the first missionary

Statues, Drawings, & Paintings of Nichiren

This statue is vaguely reminiscent of the Statue at Kyoto Honmanji. The face is similar to those at Myohon-ji and Yusei-ji. It is also dated to the Kamakura Era {late 1200's, early 1300's}.

The statue is evidently kept in the Founder's Hall of the Pagoda at Hokke-ji Temple, located in Esashi Town, Matsumae District of Hokkaido. It appears to have been at that location since 1886. It might have been salvaged from the ruins of an older temple in Hyogo prefecture. The original Matsumae Hokke-ji Temple is said to have been founded by Nichiji Shonin, who was one of Nichiren's six {6} designated successors. The current structures at Esashi Town date to the Muromachi period {1333 - 1573}.

"Twenty four years after leaving Sado Island together with his Master, Nichiji Shonin attended the 13th Annual Memorial Service commemorating the passing of Nichiren Daishonin. In the following year of 1295, when Nichiji was 45 years old, he set out on a journey to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra abroad. The first records mentioning his travels are seen in the Nichiren Shu Chronicles of 1735. His desire to travel abroad to spread the Dharma was inspired by Nichiren Daishonin's own wishes that faith in the Lotus Sutra be propagated in the nation of Japan's Buddhist teachers, in China and the land of origin of Buddhism itself, in India."

Links

Esashi Town Guide

pulsedes/matsumaebunka

Nichiji propagated faith amongst the indigenous Ainu people.

Posted by rbeck at June 17, 2006 12:00 AM