October 06, 2007
Gohonzonshu Notes & Details: Mandalas 011 to 015
I am starting here with mandala # 011, continues through 015.
- [Mandala] Number {番号}: 011
- Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Eleventh {11} Year {11年} [1274]
- Month; Moon {月}: 6 [June ]
- Day {日}: Not Given
- Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
- Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: Shamon; wandering monk {沙門} Tenmoku {天目} Juyo; Award, Conferral {授与} this {之}
- Kept at; Housed at; Possession {所蔵}: Kyoto {京都} Metro Area{府} Myomanji {妙満寺}
- Nickname/Popular Name: {通称}:
- Sheets {紙数}: Silk {絹本}
- Height {丈}; 165.1 cm / inches
- Width {幅}: 77.3 cm / inches
- Area {面積}: 12762.23
Nichiren was pardoned and left Sado Island on March 13 1274. On the 15th, his boat landed at Kashiwazaki, having been blown off course by a storm. The following day, he arrived at Taradomari. He then traveled to Kamakura, arriving there on the 26th. He next took up residence in the Ebisudo at what is now Kamakura Myogonzan Hongakuji Temple. In April, Nichiren met with Taira no Yoritsuna {平頼綱}, also known as Hei no Saemon {平の左衛門}, for what is known as the the third and final remonstration. He then moved to Mount Minobu, at the invitation of Nanbu Sanenaga, the Lord of Hakii, on May 12 1274. In June, he inscribed this Great Mandala Gohonzon for Shamon Tenmoku.
A search for information about the Wandering Monk Tenmoku was disappointing. Several sources list him as having received this Mandala Gohonzon. Other than that; Chris Holte mentions the Ko Moku Mondo Ki {Dialogue between Niko and Tenmoku} as Niko's record of a debate that took place in 1299. { See Also Holte}. I have no idea if this would be the same Tenmoku or not. Finally, Reverend Shoryu mentions that a Tenmoku is credited with founding two {2} Nichiren Shu Temples; Shimoya Sano Myokenji, and Shinagawa Honkoji.
The Temple that houses this silk Great Mandala Gohonzon, Kyoto Myomanji, is a Head Temple or Sohonzan {総本山} of Kenponji {顕本寺} Hokkeshu {法華宗}. Hopefully, the Myomanji Homepage might yield some information about the Tenmoku Gohonzon. Myomanji was founded by Nichiju {日什} (1314-1392) at Kyoto in 1385. There are many more links to this temple. Here are some:
Kyoto-spot 妙満寺, biglobe, Kyoto-tv, Tabitano, Tencoo, Kyotokk.
- [Mandala] Number {番号}: 012
- Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Eleventh Year {11年}
- 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: {通称}:
- Sheets {紙数}: One {1} Paper {1紙}
- Height {丈}: 42.7 cm / inches
- Width {幅}: 29.1 cm / inches
- Area {面積}: 1242.57 cm
- [Mandala] Number {番号}: 013
- Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Eleventh Year {11年}
- Month; Moon {月}: 07
- Day {日}: 25
- Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: 大覚{Dai koku, Great Awakened [one]} 世尊{Seson; Bahagavan, Blessed One, World Honored One} 入滅{Entered Nirvana ?} 後{after} 二千二百二十{2230} 余{more than} 年{years} 之{certainly} 間{interval, between} 雖{although, however} 有{possession} 経{Sutra} 文{sentence} 一 閻 浮 提{Ichien Budai} 之{this} 内{inside} 未{not yet} 有{exist} 大曼陀{Daimandara} 也{be} 得意{mind, heart, desire} 人{human} 察{understand} 之{this}
- Conferral; Recipient {授与書}:
- Kept at; Housed at; Possession {所蔵}: Chiba Prefecture {千葉} Mobara {県茂} Sogenji 原藻原寺}
- Nickname/Popular Name: {通称}: Unknown
- Sheets {紙数}: 6 sheets of paper {6紙}
- Height {丈}; 127.3 cm / inches
- Width {幅}: 57 cm / inches
- Area {面積}: 7256.1 cm
It was inscribed July 25 1274. For information on the temple where it is housed, See: Treasures of Mobara Sogenji; also: Nichiren in Kazusa; Niko & Mobara
- [Mandala] Number {番号}: 014
- Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Eleventh Year {11年}
- Month; Moon {月}: 11
- 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} Okamiya {岡宮} Kochoji {光長寺}
- Nickname/Popular Name: Unknown {通称}:
- Sheets {紙数}: Three Papers {3紙}
- Height {丈}: 83.4 cm / inches
- Width {幅}: 44.9 cm / inches
- Area {面積}: 3744.66 cm
For more on the Temple that houses this Honzon, see Kyoga Take {Sutra Peak} & Kochoji Temple .
- [Mandala] Number {番号}: 015
- Era & Year {年}: Bun'ei Era {文永} Eleventh Year {11年}{年}
- Month; Moon {月}: 11
- Day {日}: unknown
- Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: None
- Conferral; Recipient {授与書}:None
- Kept at; Housed at; Possession {所蔵}: Shiga prefecture {滋賀県} Mabuchi {馬渕} Myokyoji
{妙経寺} - Nickname/Popular Name {通称}: Unknown
- Sheets {紙数}: Three {3} Papers {3紙}
- Height {丈}: 82.7 cm / inches
- Width {幅}: 43.3 cm / inches
- Area {面積}: 3580.91 cm