Robin Beck

First Gohonzon at Minobu? III

I have proposed that the original Gohonzon at Miniobu-san Kuon-ji might have been a statuary arrangement known as "Isson Shiji." This original honzon was lost or destroyed by 1284. It may have been lost in a fire, a storm, or even looted by thieves.

Sometime between March of 1285 and October of 1288. the Land Lord Hakiri decided to replace it. Nikko, who was likely the Chief Abbot at the time, objected, because the proposed statue did not have the 4 Attendants. Apparently, Hakiri could not afford all five statues. Niko {one k}, the Chief of Instruction, said, consistent with Nichiren's own instructions, that it was acceptable to simply eye open the Shayamuni statue based on the Lotus Sutra. This was one of several conflicts leading to Nikko's ouster as Chief Abbot in the Fall of 1288.

So far, I cited as evidence:

1. The earliest known painting depicting Nichiren at Kuon-ji.
2. Some difficult passages in Nikko's letter, the Reply to Hara Dono.

There is, however, a phrase in the Letter to Hara Dono that seems to contradict my theory. Nikko wrote that others had made various images of the Eternal Buudha, but:

"no one has made an offering of an image in wood." -- Hello's translation

"no one has carved a wooden statue yet" -- Kazou's translation.

This seems to make no sense at all, because we know that Nichiren's followers had made such statues. For example, we have the Gosho; Consecrating an Image of Shakyamuni Buddha Made by Shijo Kingo. Nichiren told Shijo Kingo. "In performing the eye-opening ceremony for painted or wooden Buddha images, the only authority ... It is the power of the Lotus Sutra that makes it possible to infuse such paintings and statues with a "soul" or spiritual property."

I read this to mean that such a statue should be eye opened as the Buddha of the Juryo Chapter. This was in 1276. By then, Nichiren had made it clear that only the Eternal Shakyamuni, not the temporal Buddha who first attained Awakening in this world, should be viewed as the Object of Worship.

As Dr. Stone wrote: "At the same time, at least three of his extant letters suggest that he or his disciples occasionally performed the eye-opening ritual (kaigen kuyo) for Buddha images made by his followers. He is also known to have kept by him throughout much of his life a small personal image of Shakyamuni Buddha, which he enshrined wherever he happened to be living."

Here are some other examples from the Gosho:

In the 'Zen Mui Sanzo Sho'. Nichiren wrote: "If you want to worship the Go-Honzon, be sure to carve an image of Sakyamuni Buddha in wood. The statue (of Sakyamuni Buddha) must be the Go-Honzon."

From "On Establishing the Four Bodhisattvas as the Object of Devotion': "Now that we have entered the Latter Day of the Law, an object of devotion should be made of the original Buddha flanked by his original attendants, since, according to the Buddha’s golden words, this is the most appropriate time."

As to the latter passage, Dr. Stone wrote: "Yet another form of honzon possibly adopted during Nichiren's lifetime is known as the "one Buddha and four attendants" (isson shishi). It probably derives from passages in Nichiren's writings such as the following, in a letter to his follower Toki Jonin (1216-1299), dated 1279."

"You say in your letter: 'I have heard before that an object of worship should be made of the Lord Sakyamuni of the origin teaching, who attained enlightenment in the remote past, and that, as attendants [images] should be made of the four leaders of the bodhisattvas emerged from the earth who are his original disciples. But when [is this object of worship to be established] as I have heard?'"

"...Now in the Final Dharma age, in accordance with the Buddha's golden words, [an object of worship] should be made of the original Buddha and his original attendants."

Stone adds: "And in fact, Toki Jonin's index of the writing, icons, and ritual implements preserved at the temple he established after Nichiren's death includes 'a standing image of Sakyamuni and also the four bodhisattvas (in a small shrine).' The presence of the four bodhisattvas signals that the central icon is the original or eternal, rather than the merely historical, Sakyamuni'

Clearly some forms of statuary Gohonzon were made by Nichiren's followewrs while he was alive. There is evidence that the "Isson Shoji" form had been carved by Toki Jonin before Nichiren's death in 1282. It seems fairly definite that "Isson Shoji" was in common use by 1288, when Nikko wrote 'Hara Dono Gohenji'. Nikko had to be aware of this.

Here is the complete passage which seems to contradict this:

"A few people have drawn the image of the lord of teachings of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Shakyamuni Buddha enlightened from remote ages past which is the reason for Sage Nichiren's advent in this world. But no one has carved a wooden statue yet." (K.K)

"Besides that, a few people have written (書) dedications (奉) to Namu Myoho-Renge-Kyo, which is the calligraphic image (画像) of Shakuson (釈尊), the Master of the Teaching (教主) and Nyorai (如来) from Kuon Jitsujo (久遠実成); which is the true intention (本懐) of Sage Nichiren’s honorable advent (御出) in the world (世). But no one has made (造) an offering (奉) of an image in wood (木像). The Nyudo, due to his poor ability (微力), felt (思し召し) he should make (造立) an offering (奉) like (如) the figure (形) which Daikoku Ajari snatched (奪)." -- Hello

"One or two people humbly made pictorial images of Venerable Shakyamuni, the Thus-Come-One, who attained Buddhahood in the remote past, the Lord of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the long-cherished object of Nichiren Shonin, but no one yet has made a wooden statue." {Koshi-e 2004 Rev. Shoshin Kawabe}

"There have been one or two people who have taken it upon themselves and painted the image of Nam' Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo and the "Master of the Teachings, the venerable Sakyamuni", the "Tathagata of the Actual Attaining Enlightenment of Kuon" that was the purpose of the appearance of Nichiren Daishonin. Yet, no one in this school has ever made a wooden Satue Sakyamuni to worship." -- John Ayers

"Besides, there have been one or two people who have taken it upon themselves to paint the image of the Tathagata of the Actual Attaining Enlightenment of Kuon, the Master of Teaching of Namu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo that was the purpose of the appearance of Nichiren Shonin. Yet, no one in this school has ever made a wooden statue of Sakyamuni to worship." -- {Sorin Yasuhara}

Nichiren Shoshu reads this to mean that some of Nichiren's followers had already copied the calligraphy mandala, but no one had attempted to make a statuary Gohonzon. But Nichiren's followers had made statuary Gohonzon, while Nichiren was alive; and immediately after his death these had become common. Nikko had to know this, so the Taisekiji reading of this passage has to be an interpolation, it can not be correct.

There is another 'contextual' way to read this passage; one that extrapolates a context which is consistent with known historical facts. I shall take that up in the next entry.

to be continued

Posted by rbeck at March 15, 2007 05:18 AM