September 23, 2008
Dai[go]Honzon of 1274
On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
Life and legends of Nichiren
The Ita-Dai-Go-Honzon Issue
Actual Dai-[Go]-Honzon?
The Mandala itself has some unique characteristics. One of the most obvious is the position of Nichiren's signature and seal. Rather than being centered below, as seen on many Nichiren Dai Mandaras, these flank the Daimoku. The Seal is on 'your' left, and the signature is on the right {facing}.
Another is the position of the specific dedication; or memorandum. This entry is usually on the lower left side facing. It often tells the date {when} and, sometimes, the location {where} it was inscribed. It may also tell who received it, and why. On this one, it is on "our" lower right side. Here are two translations:
"The twelfth [lunar] month of the eleventh year of Bun'ei (1274) with the location in the mountains at Hakiri in the Province of Kai, i.e., at Minobusan."
"Inscribed in the midst of the mountains in the Village of Hakii, in the State of Kai, on that 1st day of the twelfth month of Bun’ei eleventh year (1274), the cyclical signs kinoe-inu."
Also, there are four figures in the top row, rather than three. This is also seen on some of the other pre-1278 Mandalas, as well as some possible transcriptions of the now lost Great Mandala of July 1273. The extra pair represent the Emanation Buddhas and Virtue Buddhas of the Ten Directions. On several of the original Nichiren mandalas, their names are as follows:
*Zentoku Nyorai (English: Buddha Good Virtue): The Virtue Buddha of the Eastern direction. One of the Virtue Buddhas of the Ten directions from the LS and the Tiantai Confessional Samadhi Bodhi Mandala.
*Jippo Bunshin, apparently representing all the Emanation Buddhas. Jippo: the ten directions, east south, west, north, southeast, southwest, northeast, northwest, up [zenith] and down [nadir]. Bunshin: limitless emanation Buddha bodies.
Their exact position, relative to the other top row entries, appears to vary. On this one, and all other extant Nichiren Mandalas, they are inserted between between Jogyo and Taho on the right {6}; on the left {3}, between Jyogo and Shakyamuni.
By the way, those who have the Nichiren Shoshu or Fuji style Daimandara will notice there are also 4 top row columns on these. That is the not the same. In that case, the 4th columns are to the outside of The Bodhisattvas of the Earth, and they are phrases from the Chinese Tiantai tradition.
Posted by rbeck at September 23, 2008 03:04 AM