Robin Beck

Nichiren's Real Shakyamuni Statue?

Life and legends of Nichiren
The Izu Exile
Nichiren's Funeral

While in exile at Izu {May 12 1261 to Feb. 22 1263}, Nichiren won over the Feudal Steward by curing his illness. The Steward, Sukemitsu Ito, rewarded Nichiren by presenting him with the "Buddha from the Sea." This was a small golden Shakyamuni Buddha statue that had been caught in a fisherman's net. Nichiren kept it as his personal 'Buddha Honzon.' It is said that he carried it in the sleeve of his robe.

After Nichiren's passing, the Golden Buddha was enshrined during the funeral, along with a Great Mandala recently dubbed the Shutei Honzon. Nichiren's authenticated will, kept at Nishiyama Honmon-ji, stipulates that the Buddha was to be enshrined at his mausoleum; which was to be built at Mt. Minobu.

However, soon after, there was a dispute with the Feudal Landlord at Minobu. Nichiro Shonin, the second ranked Elder, removed the statue for safe keeping, and took it back to Kamakura Myohon-ji Temple. In a 1289 letter, Nikko Shonin, the third ranked Elder, complained that Nichiro had made off the Buddha intended for the grave-site.

According to the traditional Nichiren Shu story, Nichiren left it to Nichiro. A document, the Distribution of the Mementos, recording this, is kept at Ikegami Honmonji. However, the present consensus is that this document is a later forgery.

A Nichiren Shu Temple at Izu, Butsugen-ji claims to have the original Buddha statue. However, I can not find any story on how it got there from Myohon-ji. Also, the statue there is described as a foot tall. This might be a bit too large for Nichiren to have carried in his sleeve.

An obscure lineage known as Honmon Shoshu, based in Yokohama, recently produced what they believe is the original. It is less than 5 inches tall, small enough to fit in the sleeve of a robe. Note that this lineage has a record of producing controversial artifacts. Some have been authenticated; none, that I know of, have been debunked.

According to them, Nichiro Shonin delivered it to the custody of Nichimoku Shonin at Taisekiji in 1293. It was then kept in Shaka-do [Shakyamuni Buddha Hall] there, until 1482. At that time, a Taisekiji Chief Priest left there, taking a number of important artifacts with him. He hid them at a place called Ide's Cave, on property of the Nitta {Niida} Clan. The Honmon Shoshu lineage is descended from the Niida Clan. That is their story as I understand it. The artifacts include:

1. The Aizen & Fudo Kankenk; which are authenticated.
2. A relic statue of Nichiren
3. The Golden Buddha.
4. An original draft of the Kanjin Honzon Sho.
5. A wooden replaca of the Dai-Honzon of 1274; with a Kaigen dated Octiber 12 1279.
6. Another statue of Nichiren, I think, a wooden one.
7. I think; Godaigo's written authority to build Honmon-ji
8. Possibly a copy of the Onjoji Petition of 1334?

Notes:

Welcome to Fujisan Honmonji

Welcome to FUJISANHONMONJI

Honmon Shoshu Buddhism

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.

The last paragraph of the Shuso Gosenge Kiroku is the "Last Will of Nichiren" (Go-yui-gon). It reads, in part, "The standing statue of Shakyamuni Buddha must be set up by the side of the grave. "

The Reply to Hara Dono was written by Nikko in 1289. Nikko wrote, "Moreover Acharya Mimbu [Niko] gave him an unnecessary advice that he should make a wooden Buddha in the place of the one which Acharya Daikoku [Nichiro] robbed. Since then he has clung to this idea. I, Nikko, told him that I dare not oppose him if he wanted to enshrine the Buddha which the late Sage had and enshrined. ... [Nichiro] has already stolen it [the Buddha figurine]. "

The "Distribution of the Mementos" is often cited to defend Nissho & Nichiro against the charges that they over-ruled Nichiren's Last Will, by removing items from Nichiren's grave site at Minobu. It reads in part, "Object of Worship, one figure, a statue of Shakyamuni, to Daikoku-ajari (Nichiro) ... "

The Shuso Gosenge Kiroku, by Nikko, and kept at Nishiyama Honmon-ji, contradicts & discredits the "Distribution of the Mementos."

Honmon Shoshu believes that Taisekiji was riginally built on property owned by the Niida Clan, at what is now Fuji City. It was moved to it's present location, part of modern Fujinomiya City, around 1632. The oldest buildings at Taisekiji indeed date to that time. Also, a section of Fuji City was once known as Oishigahara or Taisekiji.

Like and Legends of Nichiren
The Izu Exile

Posted by rbeck at July 22, 2007 11:59 AM