April 05, 2009
Wakamiya or Bamboo Grove Honzon? # 050
Mandala Number # 050 in the 日蓮聖人御本尊集 {Nichiren Shonin Gohonzon Catalog}. It is mapped here: 日蓮聖人 大漫荼羅 ０５０
- Date : 弘安元年 First Year 年 of Koan 七月五日Seventh Month; Fifth Day.
- 授与 {Juyo} Conferral: 沙門日門 Shamon Nichimon
- 通称 Popular Name: 若宮本尊 Wakamiya Honzon and 竹内本尊 {Takenai or Takeuchi Honzon} Inner Bamboo Grove Honzon?
- 讃文 Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription: 仏滅度後二千二百三十余年之間一閻浮提之内未曽有大漫荼羅也
- Material: Paper 3 紙 Sheets
- Dimensions: 53 X 94.9 cm or 20.86 x 37 3/8 inches.
- 所蔵 Kept at: 京都 頂妙寺 Kyoto Chomyoji
As on many of Nichiren's Mandala Honzons, there is a long phrase on the lower left side, or your right when facing the mandala. On this one, it reads: 
仏滅度後度 Butsumetsu do ; Buddha's death
度
後 go; duration after
二千 ni sen; 2000
二百 ni hyaku 200
三十 san ju = 30
余年 yo nen = more years
之間 no aida = this interval
提 ichi = all of
一閻浮 Enbu dai = a transliteration of Jambhu dvipa; this World. Jambu is a Rose Apple. The Jambu tree bears flowers that resemble roses, and a sweet, watery fruit that looks like a small apple. Dvipa means continent or island. In Buddhist cosmology, Jambudvipa is the world of humans, our planet.
之内 no uchi = this between;
未曽有 mi zo u = not yet, never existed; unprecedented; unheard of;
大漫荼羅 dai man da ra = mahamandala = great mandala
也 nari = also, too, a strong affirmation.
More than 2,230 years have transpired, since the Buddha's death. Moreover, In between then and now, this Daimandara was unheard of in this world.
Posted by rbeck at April 5, 2009 12:57 PMI have a photo copy book of gohonzons. I wonder where it is? Maybe I can find it in time for our next district meeting :-)
I love looking at theses. Thanks!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy at April 8, 2009 05:37 PM