Robin Beck

Gohonzonshu Notes & Details: Mandala 001

New images; errors corrected.

Gohonzonshu Study

• [Mandala] Number {番号}: 001
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era Eighth {8} year {文永8年}
• Month; Moon {月}: 10
• Day {日}: 09
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at / Housed at / Possession {所蔵}: Kyoto{京都} Ryuhonji {立本寺)
• Nickname / Popular Name {通称}: Twig Brush/Tooth Pick { 楊子} Honzon {本尊}
• Sheets {紙数}: One (1) Paper {紙}
• Height {丈}: 53.6 cm / 21.1 inches  
• Width {幅}: 33 cm / 12.99 inches
• Area {面積}: 1769.8 cm
My Comments: This is a simple Mandala, with just the Daimoku alone down the center. Nichiren's name is in Kanji on the mandala's right, our left facing. His kao seal is below his name. This seal indicates it is his original work. The esoteric guardians / messengers Aizen and Fudo, drawn in Siddham, flank the Daimoku. There is some writing on the left side, or our right facing. Part of this is simply the date; it looks to be in a straight line; Bun'ei 8, 1oth moon, 9th sun. Two other entries might be the cyclical sign? Then a phrase; Namu something?

Mandala # 001 is known as the Tooth Pick or Twig Brush Honzon {楊子本尊}. Since Mandala 010 is known as the Ship Boarding {船中} or Twig Brush {Tooth Pick} Honzon {楊子本尊}, this can cause some confusion. From what I can gather, a 楊子{yoko} is a tooth pick. I am guessing Nichiren had no writing brush, so he used an instrument intended for cleaning one's teeth to draw the mandala. I am prepared to stand corrected.

Mandala 001 Background

Nichiren must have inscribed this mandala on October 9, 1271 at the residence of an official named Honma Rokuro Zaemon Shigetsura {Homma Rokuro Saemon-no-jo} {Lord Honma Rokuro}, at Sagami Province, {present day Kanagawa Prefecture}, in the village of Echi, which is the modern Atsugi City. Nichiren was there from September 13 to October 10 1271. So he likely drew the mandala while being held in custody, after Tatsunokuchi, before being taken to Sado Island. On the same day, he wrote the Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison.

Kamakura officials of the Hojo Clan had conspired with leading ministers of local establishment temples, such as Rankei Doryu, to have Nichiren charged with slander. He was brought up on charges, convicted in a sham hearing, sentenced to exile at Sado Island, and taken into custody at Tatsunokuchi beach. An official named Hei-no-Saemon decided to have him executed instead, resulting in the infamous Tatsunokuchi incident.

The attempt to behead Nichiren failed. He then received an official order of reprieve from the Shikken (regent to the Shogun), Hojo Tokimistsu. But rather than releasing him, authorities had him taken to Echi, while they sorted things out. While en route, Nichiren was permitted to visit his disciple Nichiro, who was being held in custody at the residence of Mitsunori Yadoya. Some sources indicate that Nichiro and Nichiren later collaborated to make an engraved Daimoku Stupa or Odaimoku Tablet; which is kept at a temple located where Nichiro was jailed.

Homma Rokuro Saemon-no-jo Shigetsura {本間六郎左衛門} was evidently a retainer of Hojo Nobutoki, and also the Deputy Constable of Sado Island, as well as the deputy Steward of Niibo. Hojo Nobutoki was the governor of Musashi Province from 1267 to 1273. Nobutoki, who resided in Kamakura, was also the Constable of Sado Island, Echigo Province, as well the Steward of Niibo City. Another source indicates that Lord Honma was the steward of Niiho {Niibe / Niibo} District {Sado Island} of Echigo. It goes on to say that Niibo was granted to the Honma clan of Honshu during the Kamakura Era, and they continued to dominate Sado until 1589.


Hojo Clan authorities eventually decided to enforce the original sentence, and exile Nichiren to Sado. The Sage left Echi Village on October 10, en route to Echigo Province, escorted by several of Honma's warriors. At the present time, there is a large gap, in terms of time, between Mandalas 001 & 002. The former was inscribed in October of 1271; the latter on June 16 1272. This does not mean Nichiren did not write any Mandalas in the mean time. It simply means that none attributed to that interim time have been authenticated and added to the Goshonzonshu. I have read an account of at least one, and I suspect there are more. I would not be surprised to see a 1a, 1b, and so on; added in the future.




Gosho or Goinbun

Translated Gosho written by Nichiren while at Echi residence of Honma include:

• Letter from Echi: Written to Toki Jonin on 14 September 1271.
• The Persecution at Tatsunokuchi: Written to Shijo Kingo on 21 September 1271.
  
• Lessening One's Karmic Retribution: Written to Ota Saemon, Soya, Dharma Bridge Kimbara Hokyo on 5 October 1271.
• Banishment to Sado: Written to Enjo-bo in October.
  
• Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison: Written to Nichiro on 9 October 1271.



Life & Legends of Nichiren: The Miracle at Echi on September 13 1271

After arriving in Echi, Nichiren went to the garden of Honma's compound, and recited the verse portion of the Life Span Chapter of the Tahagata Chapter from the Lotus Sutra {jigage}. He later described what happened as follows: "Then, as though in answer, a large star bright as the Morning Star fell from the sky and struck a branch of the plum tree in front of me. The soldiers, astounded, jumped down from the veranda, fell on their faces in the garden, or ran behind the house. Immediately a fierce wind started up, raging so violently that the whole island of Enoshima seemed to roar. The sky shook, echoing with a sound like pounding drums." -- Nichiren

I am never quite sure how ta take the descriptions of supernatural events in the Gosho, as well as various legends. Did Nichiren mean this literally? I tend to see it as figurative speech, but am open to other takes. A star alighting in a tree could be a metaphor for a sort of illuminating event, a noumenon or an inner state of being transfixed, one that spiritually 'lights up' the environment. Some suggested maybe it as the phenomenon known St. Elmo's Fire.








Kyoto Ryuhonji Temple

Here are some links to and about Kyoto Ryuhonji, where Mandala 001 is housed. The Temple is part of the Kyoto Nichiro Nichizo lineage. I have no clue how Mandala 001 came to be kept there.

Nichirenshu Ryuhonji

立本寺（りゅうほんじ）

Tree

Encyclopedia of Kyoto

立本寺 - Wikipedia

具足山　立本寺

本山　立本寺

Photos

■立本寺■

The same temple is in possession of Mandala # 048 and Mandala # 069. Ryuhonji also houses mandalas transcribed by Nichiro {日朗} Shonin {上人} (1245-1320), who was one of Nichiren {日蓮} Daishonin's {大聖人} (1222–1282)). six {6} designated successors or Rokuroso {六老僧}; and Nichizo {日像} Shonin {上人}. Nichizo was Nichiro's half brother, and founder of Kyoto Myokenji.






Dial Up Internet

Posted by rbeck at September 13, 2007 02:41 AM

Posted by rbeck at November 2, 2007 12:53 AM