Robin Beck

Gohonzonshu Notes & Details: Mandalas 003 to 007

This collection includes seven {7} Nichiren Mandala Honzons: 003, 003b, 003c, 004, 005, 006, and 007.

The format on these is very simple: NanMu{南}{無} Myo{妙} Ho{法} Ren{�} Ge{華} Kyo{経} is written down the middle; flanked by Nan Mu{南無} Shak'{ 釈} Ka{尊} Mu{牟} Ni{尼} Butsu{仏} on your left {the mandala's right} and Nan Mu{南無} Ta{多} Ho{宝} Nyo{如} Rai{来} on your right {the mandalas left}. The Siddham {sanskrit seed syllable} for Aizen {Ragaraja}, U-UN, is on the right {left facing}; while the Siddham for Fudo {Acala}, KAN, is on the right side {left facing}. Nichiren's printed name, in Kanji, and his kao seal, are at the bottom, in opposite corners.

All of these are undated. None of them have a named recipient. All were likely inscribed while Nichiren was at Ichinosawa {modern Sawata, Sado Island} residence of Kondo Kiyohisa. Given their placement in the Gohonzonshu, they were thought to be inscribed in June of 1272. Translated Gosho or Goibun from around this time include:

• Reply to Sairen-bo Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on 13 April 1272 from Sado - Ichinosawa
• The Gods Same Birth and Same Name Written to Nichigen-nyo in April of 1272 from Sado - Ichinosawa
• Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment Written to Shijo Kingo on 2 May 1272 from Sado - Ichinosawa
• Letter to the Sage Nichimyo Written to Nichimyo Shonin on 25 May 1272 from Sado - Ichinosawa
• The Pure and Far-Reaching Voice Written to Shijo Kingo in 1272 from Sado - Ichinosawa
• On Prayer Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo in 1272 from Sado - Ichinosawa

Mandala 003

• [Mandala] Number {番号}:   003
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day {日}: unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at; Housed at; Possession {所蔵}: Kyoto {京都} Honnoji {本能寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name: {通称}: Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
• Height {丈}: 48.8 cm / 19.2 inches
• Width {幅}: 28.8 cm / 11.4 inches
• Area {面積}: 1290.24 cm

My Comments: Kyoto Honnoji is where Mandala # 003a is housed. The Temple is a Head Temple or Daihonzan of Honmon Hokke Shu Honmonryu; formerly known as the Happon Ha {Eight Chapter School} of the Shoretsu Ha lineages. Other Gohonzon kept at Honnoji include numbers 043, 045. 054: 092, and 115.

Mandala 003b

• [Mandala] Number {番号}: 003b
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day {日}: unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at; Housed at; Possession {所蔵}: Niigata Prefecture { 新潟県} Sado{佐渡} Myosenji { 妙宣寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name: Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
• Height {丈}: 42.1 cm / 16.6 inches
• Width {幅}: 26.4 cm / 10.4 inches
• Area {面積}: 1111.44 cm

My Comments: The Myosenji Temple that houses Mandala 003b is located at Mano Town, Sado City. It is also called Abutsubo Mosenji, for Nichiren's first disciple at Sado Island. For links, see Mandala #009 below. Mandala # 012 is also kept at Sado Myosenji.

Mandala 003c

• [Mandala] Number {番号}: 003c
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon: Unknown
• Day {日}: unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at; Housed at; Possession {所蔵}: Kyoto {京都} Myorenji {妙蓮寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name {通称}: Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
• Height {丈}: 45.8 cm / 18 inches
• Width {幅}: 28.5 cm / 10.4 inches
• Area {面積}: 1305.3

My Comments: Kyoto Myorenji also houses Mandalas 002 and 098.

Mandala 004

• [Mandala] Number {番号}:   004
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day {日}: Unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at, Housed at, Possession {所蔵}: Shizuoka Prefecture {静岡県} Koizumi {小泉} Kuonji {久遠寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name {通称}: Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
• Height {丈}:52.4 cm / 20.6 inches
• Width {幅}: 33 cm / 13 inches
• Area {面積}: 1729.2 cm

My Comments: Wiki has an entry on this Temple: 小泉久遠寺 . I may try to read that. At this point, I have no credible information concerning Koizumi Kuonji. It was apparently founded by Niida Kyo-bo Nichimoku (1260-1333) as his residential Temple, called the Renzo-bo, circa 1290 or so. After Nichimoku passed away, Saisho Nichigo (1293-1353) established Koizumi Seminary at that location. In 1406, Nichigo's successor, Nanjo Nichiden {1340-1416}, expanded Renzo-bo-Koizumi Seminary into a temple, which was named Koizumi Kuonji.

Mandala 005

• [Mandala] Number {番号}: 005
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day; Sun {日}: Unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at, Housed at, Possession {所蔵}: Niigata Prefecture {新潟県} Sanjo {三條} Honjoji {本成寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name {通称} : Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
• Height {丈}: 44.8 cm / 17.6 inches
• Width {幅}: 29.4 cm / 11.6 inches
• Area {面積}: 1317.12 cm

My Comments: The Temple where this Mandala is housed appears to have some connection with the Sado Exile. I recall reading somewhere that Nichiren may have stopped at Sanjo on the way from Echi City to Teradomari. Note that Sanjo is not far from Teradomari. There was a legend connected, but my memory fails. Here is a link to a brief article with pictures: 本成寺 三条市. That appears to indicate that Nichiren received a warm reception at Sanjoshi, either on the way to exile, or possibly on the return trip, after his pardon in March of 1274. On the way from Sado Island back to Teradomari, in March 1274, Nichiren's boat was blown off course, and crash landed at Kashiwazaki. He may have passed through sanjo Town on the way from Kashiwazaki to Teradomari.

The Temple was evidently founded by Nichiin in 1297 and is part of the Hokke-shu {法華宗} Hommonryu. It appears to be best known for Dance of the Yasha at the Bean-Throwing Ceremony, orSetsubun Oni; Setsubun Oni Dance at Honjoji Temple. There is also a two story {二重} pagoda or stupa {塔婆} of note: Link. It looks like it was built as a war memorial {忠霊塔} in 1952 CE.

Mandala 006

• [Mandala] Number {番号}: 006
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day; Sun {日}: Unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at, Housed at, Possession {所蔵}: Tokyo Metro Area {東京都} Sugamo {巣鴨} Honmyoji {本妙寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name {通称}: Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
• Height {丈}: 43.6 cm / 17.2 inches
• Width {幅}: 29.4 cm / 11.6 inches
• Area {面積}: 1281.84 cm

My Comments: Here are links Sugami Honmyoji: 本妙寺 and link2 ; where this mandala is housed.

Mandala 007

• [Mandala] Number {番号}: 007
• Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Year Unknown
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day; Sun {日}: Unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at, Housed at, Possession {所蔵}: Kyoto Metro Area {京都府} Chomyoji {頂妙寺}
• Nickname/Popular Name: {通称} Unknown
• Sheets {紙数}: Two {2} Papers {2紙}
• Height {丈}: 86.7 cm/34.1 inches
• Width {幅}: 30 cm/11.8 inches
• Area {面積}: 2601 cm

My Comments: Here are some links to Kyoto Chomyoji, where this Mandala and Mandala #050 are housed: 頂妙寺; ... wiki article; ... photo; ... link ; ... 頂妙寺.

Posted by rbeck at September 16, 2007 03:51 PM

Posted by rbeck at October 6, 2007 11:51 AM