Saint Nichiren

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Nichiren, Saint Nichiren 日蓮
February 16, 1222 – October 13, 1282



was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, Namu Myōhō-Renge-Kyō, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of "Nam Myo ho Renge Kyo" as the essential practice of the teaching. He is credited with founding what has come to be known as Nichiren Buddhism, a major school of Japanese Buddhism encompassing numerous sects espousing diverse doctrines.
He was exiled to Sado Island for a while and returned to Kamakura to preach his doctrines.
He later lived on Mount Minobusan.
Nichiren Shōnin 日蓮聖人 "St. Nichiren" or "Sage Nichiren"
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. . . CLICK here for Photos of Mount Minobu!
身延山 Minobusan, a mountain and temple in honor of Saint Nichiren

. Goshiki suzu, goshiki rei 五色鈴 five-colored clay bells .
from Minobusan, Temple Kuon-Ji





The Priest Nichiren in the Snow on Sado Island

. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) .




Nichiren is sitting in a snow-covered hut
during his exile to Sado
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)


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Nichiren was born in Awa Kominato　安房小湊, Chiba, now celebrated at temple Tanjo-Ji 　誕生寺　(Birth Temple)。
This is one of the most revered temples by the Nichiren sect.

Near the temple is the inlet Tae no Ura 妙の浦（たえのうら）, taken from "tai no ura".
At Tae no Ura, they believe the tai sea bream is a messenger of Saint Nichiren, or even an incarnation of the Saint himself.
Sea bream is never eaten in this inlet.

. ganman no tai　(gamman)　願満の鯛　
sea bream after the fulfillment of a wish .
Chiba

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Namu Myoho Renge Kyo 南無妙法蓮華経


source :　bosu.air-nifty.com

Daimoku お題目
The Nichiren Incantation to the Lotus Sutra


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Nichiren and Dragon Legends

The 7 headed dragon & Kishimo Daimoku

In those days, Kashiwazaki and Teradomari were both part of Echigo Province; Teradomari was the provincial seat, and a fairly bustling port. Kashiwazaki is to the south of Teradomari. Back then, it was a treacherous land-fall. Moreover, the area was said to be inhabited by savage barbarians, and frequented by ruthless bandits; making it an unsafe stop-over for weary, wayward travelers.
-- Nichiren, Kashiwazaki, & the Demon Storm

It is said that, upon landing at Kashiwazaski, Nichiren & the others were beset by barbaric inhabitants; as well as demonic mythical beings known as Yasha Trolls & Rasetsu Shapeshifters. Apparently, the Daishonin's saintly demeanor gave them pause. The relief on this statue depicts the event:

Nichiren learned that the rampant Yasha and Rasestsu were plaguing the local inhabitants under the direction of an evil Seven Headed Dragon. The ghastly dragon evidently resided in a cave, near the shore, at Tsunoda.

Nichiren asked to taken to the cave; whereupon he entered and subdued the dragon, by invoking the power of the benevolent Yasha Kishimo and her ten Rasetsunyo daughters. The dragon then repented, and agreed to serve as the Daimyojin for the village. The Daishonin is said to have engraved the Kishimodaimoku on a shell shaped rock, as a record of the event.

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo


Legends of Nichiren: the Demon Storm

There are several 'Seven Headed Dragon' legends connected with Nichiren. One of these is related to Sado Island, Kashiwazaki, and Teradomari. The Storm Kami, the Heavenly King Bishamonten, the Yaksha Kishimojin, and Rakshasha demons, all come into play.

Up until the Edo Period, what is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province {the coast} and Sado Province {the Island}. After the Tatsunokuchi Incident, Nichiren was eventually taken to Teradomari, Echigo; and, from there, by boat, to Sado. His initial Sado residence was a grave yard hut at Tsukuhara. Today, that is Niibe. The following spring, he was moved to comfortable quarters at Ichinosawa, which is now Sawata.

It is said a boat carrying Nichiren encountered a demon storm, raised by Amaterasu Omikami/Tensho Daijin's mischievous lttle brother; the storm kami Susanoo, and a 7 headed dragon. Nichiren then arises, stands in the boat, raises his hand, chants the Odaimoku, and "calms the seas." There are two well known wood block prints, by Hokusai & Kuniyoshi respectively:


Writing an incantation on the Waves
日蓮上人波題目

Several on line sources place this happening on the way to Sado. However, it appears that the Gosho only mentions a storm on the return trip, after the pardon. Also, local legends at Kashiwazaki are consistent with the latter.

"I left [my place of residence on] Sado on the thirteenth day of that month and reached a harbor called Maura, where I spent the night of the fourteenth. I should have arrived at the harbor of Teradomari in Echigo Province on the
fifteenth, but a gale prevented my boat from making port. Fortunately, however, after two days at sea, we reached Kashiwazaki, and on the following day I arrived at the provincial seat of Echigo."
-- Nichiren

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Joeiji
(popularly called Botamochi-dera 牡丹餅寺)
Kamakura, Jooei-Ji 常栄寺

In 1271, the year unforgettable for the Nichiren Sect Buddhists, Priest Nichiren (1222-1282), the founder of the Nichiren sect, was sentenced to death on charges of his fierce criticism against the government policy. He had also reprimanded all other religious sects saying they were fallacious, false and even dangerous to the welfare of the country. True Buddhism is, he argued, in the Lotus Sutra and unless the government follow his suggestion, the country would continue to face natural disasters and social unrest.

Read more and some haiku about the ricecakes too !
Botamochidera Temple in Kamakura

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.Ryuukooji　龍口寺 Ryuko-Ji .

Tatsu no Kuchi in Fujizawa　　竜の口　藤沢

Ryukoji stands on the site of the former Tatsu no Kuchi Execution Grounds, and its names uses the same two kanji. It was here that Nichiren was to have been executed in 1271. Nichiren was the only man who survived from the execution at this ground. After this event, Nichiren was banished to Sado Island for three years. Nichiren wrote many books and scrolls with the experience of Tatsukuchi.


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Shichimen Daimyojin is the guardian deity of Kuonji 久遠寺, the headquarters of Nichirenshu, which is in Yamanashi Prefecture.

. Shichimen Daimyojin 七面大明神 .

Shichimen Tennyo (七面天女) celestial nymph
Heavenly Lady from Mount Shichimen
Goddess Shichimen of Minobusan Kuon-ji

Shichimen Daibosatsu 七面大菩薩,
Shichimen Kannon

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H A I K U

There are variuos KIGO related to the life of this famous monk.


observance kigo for early spring

shutsugyoo-e 出行会 start of the ascetic exercises
Nichiren Sect. Feb. 10
The biggest kind of "rough ritual" aragyoo 荒行.
大荒行出行会（だいあらぎょうしゅつぎょうえ)

Selected followers of Nichiren assemble at the most important regional temples for this ascetic practise.
Throwing buckets of cold water over the naked bodies seven times a day for 100 days.
They have to chant the sutras three times a day.
They eat two meals of rice gruel with one pickled plum (umeboshi) per day.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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kigo for mid-autumn

gonan no mochi 御難の餅 (ごなんのもち)
"mochi in difficult times"

Tatsu no kuchi Hoonan E 龍口法難会（たつのくちほうなんえ）
Ceremony at the temple "Dragon Mouth"
botamochi eshiki 牡丹餅会式（ぼたもちえしき） Botamochi Ceremony
memorial service with botamochi rice cakes
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Botamochidera Temple in Kamakura



kigo for late autumn

omeiko, Omeikō 御命講 (おめいこう) memorial service
for Saint Nichiren
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
omyookoo, o-myookoo 御命講（おみょうこう）、oeikoo, o-eikoo 御影講（おえいこう）、oeshiki, o-eshiki 御会式（おえしき）、eshiki 会式（えしき）、eshikidaiko 会式太鼓（えしきだいこ）、drums / mandoo 万燈（まんどう）lanterns

Nichirenki, Nichiren ki 日蓮忌（にちれんき）
Memorial Day for Saint Nichiren



菊鶏頭切り尽しけり御命講　
kiku keitoo kiri tsukushi keri Omeikoo

chrysanthemums and cockscomb
cut in abundance -
Omeiko ceremony



source :　itoyo/basho


御命講や油のような酒五升
Omeikoo ya abura no yoo na sake go masu

Omeiko ceremony -
rice wine like oil
in five masu cups




元禄5年, Basho at age 49

This is a kind of sweet, strong and delicious rice wine.
It was a favorite drink of Saint Nichiren and is now still offered to him.

MORE - hokku about sake by
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


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昼もなほ暗き西の谷日蓮忌　　
hiru mo nao kuraki Nishi no Tani Nichiren-ki

even during daytime
it is dark at "Nishi no Tani" ...
Nichiren memorial day

source : sasabune, with photo

The grave memorial is at the "West Valley" Nishi no Tani, of Mount Minobusan.
身延山・西谷



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kigo for mid-winter

Daikotaki, daikodaki 大根焚き
Cooking Radishes in memory Saint Nichiren

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full moon night -
the sound of prayer drums
from the Nichiren temple


The famous drum in form of a Chinese fan
uchiwadaiko 団扇太鼓

. Prayer Drums and Saint Nichiren .

Gabi Greve, October 2011




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. Saijiki of Japanese Ceremonies and Festivals 　


. WASHOKU
Food and Saint Nichiren


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