Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon # 053; Nitcho Shonin Juyo Honzon of August 1278

Mandala Number # 053 in the 日蓮聖人御本尊集 {Nichiren Shonin Gohonzon Catalog}. This Nichiren Gohonzon is mapped here: 日蓮聖人　大漫荼羅　０５３

• Era & Year {年}: 弘安 {koan} 1年 {nen}; First year of the Koan Era -- 1278
• Month; Moon {月}: Eighth {August}
• Day; Sun {日}: Unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: 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 { {Butsu-metsu-do-go ni-sen ni-hyaku san-ju yo nen no aida ichienbudai no uchi mi-zo-u dai-man-da-ra nari}}
• Side Phrases: There are four of these. Two relate to the blessings derived from making offerings to and praising the Lotus Sutra. The other two to the Karmic retribution from defamation.
  

1. Top Left {that is your right side if you are facing the Mandala}: 有供養者福過十號 {u ku yo sha fuku ka ju go} . A person who makes offerings will experience good fortune that exceeds the Ten Titles.
2. Lower Left: 謗者開罪於無間 {bo sha kai zui ue mu-gen}. People who vilify this shall reap the fruit of their sin immediately.
3. Top Right: 若惱亂者頭破七分 {nyaku no ran sha zu ha shichi bun}. Those who vex and and annoy will have their heads broken into seven parts.
4. Lower Right: 賛者積福於安明 {San sha seki? fuku ue an-myo. A person who assists this will pile up fortune higher than Sumeru.
   

• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: 日頂 {Nitcho} 上人 {Shonin} (1252-1317); aka Iyo-bo. He was one the Six Elder Ministers 六老僧 {Rokuroso} designated by Nichiren Shonin on his death bed. He was a step-son of 富木常忍 {Toki Jonin} (1216–1299), also known as 日常 {Nichijo}. Nitcho had a younger brother named 日澄 {Nitcho}; aka Jakusenbo. At some point the Elder Nitcho served as Chief Abbot of 真間山弘法寺 {Mamasan Guboji}. Sometime after Nichiren's passing, a conflict with his step-father caused 日頂 {Nitcho} to leave Guboji. He eventually went to his mother's home area of 重須 {Omuso} [now Kitayama] and assisted another Elder, 日興 {Nikko} (1246–1333). Reliable sources indicate that Nitcho was at Omosu by 1302, and built a small temple near there, called Shorin-ji, in March in 1303.
• Kept at / Housed at Possession {所蔵}: Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka City Shimizu Kaicho-ji,
• Nickname / Popular Name {通称}: 日頂上人 授与本尊 {Nitcho Shonin Juyo Honzon}
• Sheets {紙数}: Three sheets of Paper
• Width {幅}: 52.4 cm {20 5/8 inches}
• Height {丈}: 94.5 cm {37.25 inches }

Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon # 052; Bhikshu Nikken Juyo Honzon of 1278

Mandala Number # 052 in the 日蓮聖人御本尊集 {Nichiren Shonin Gohonzon Catalogue}. This Nichiren Gohonzon is mapped here: 日蓮聖人　大漫荼羅　０５２. It is mentioned at Saikakudoppo's blog.

• Era & Year {年}: 弘安 {koan} 1年 {nen}; First year of the Koan Era -- 1278
• Month; Moon {月}: Unknown
• Day; Sun {日}: Unknow
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: 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 { {Butsu-metsu-do-go ni-sen ni-hyaku san-ju yo nen no aida ichienbudai no uchi mi-zo-u dai-man-da-ra nari}}
• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: 比丘日賢授与之 {biku nichiken juyo no} -- This was conferred upon Bhikshu Nikken. There was a Nikken assigned to guard rotation duty at Minobu: "The 3rd month: Echizen-ko {越前公} and Awaji-ko {淡路公} Nikken." Source: The "Hakasho Mamorubeki Bancho no Koto" {The Shift for Protecting. His Mausoleum}. Also, Honjoji (本成寺); which is a small Temple at Kamakura, was founded in 1309, by Nikken {日賢}, a disciple of Nichiren {日蓮}. The Main Hall contains a sambo-soshi (三宝祖師) {a Nichiren treasure} and a statue of Nichiren. These could refer to the same Nikken who was bestowed mandala # 052.
• Kept at / Housed at / Possession {所蔵}: 佐賀県 勝妙寺 {sagaken shomyoji} ~~ Saga Ogi County Shomyoji Temple. Another record indicates housed Shomyoji temple; preceded by kanji for san, nichi, and gatsu {三日月}. The date points to this temple: Link,
• Nickname / Popular Name {通称}: Nikken Juyo Honzon
• Sheets {紙数}: Records indicate the original mandala was made on 3 sheets of paper.
  
• Width {幅: 126.1 cm {50 inches}
• Height {丈}: 66.1 sm {27 inches }
• Area {面積}: 8335.21 cm

The Chakra Jewel Honzon #051

Mandala Number # 051 in the 日蓮聖人御本尊集 {Nichiren Shonin Gohonzon Catalog}. This Nichiren Gohonzon is mapped here: 日蓮聖人　大漫荼羅　０５１

• 年月日Date : 弘安元年 First Year 年 of Koan 七月五日Seventh Month; Fifth Day. 授与
  
• {Juyo} Conferral: 削損 Erased or Damaged Entry. Thought to be: 日朗上人 Nichiro Shonin.
• 通称 Popular Name: 輪寶御本尊 {Rinbo Gohonzon} Chakraratna or Wheel Jewel Honzon.
• 讃文 Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription: 仏滅度後二千二百三十余年之間一閻浮之内未曽有大漫荼羅也 {(butsu metsu do go) (ni sen) (ni hyaku) (san ju) (yo nen) no aida (ichi en bu) (no uchi) (mi zo u} (dai man da ra) nari}
  
• Material: Paper 3 紙 Three Sheets
• Dimensions: 120.6 X 64.5 centimeters or 47 3/8 X 25.5 inches
• 所蔵 Kept at: 京都 本圀寺 Kyoto Honkokuji

This large Mandala is presumed to be have made for Reverend Nichiro; one of Sage Nichiren's Six Major Disciples. It is called the Rinbo or Chakraratna because of the pattern of the scroll on which it is mounted. If I read correctly, the Chakra Jewel may have been Nichiro's family crest, but do not bet the farm on that.

Wakamiya Gohonzon # 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. {July 05 1278}
  
• 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 {Butsu-metsu-do-go ni-sen ni-hyaku san-ju yo nen no aida ichienbudai no uchi mi-zo-u dai-man-da-ra nari}. After the Buddha's passing, there has been an interval of more than 2230 years. Moreover, In between then and now, this Great Mandala was unheard of in this world.
  
• 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

The conferral {juyo} notation is to Shamon Nichimon. Shamon is a transliteration of the Sanskrit Sharmana. DDB translates Shamon as "Wandering Monk." I can not find anything about Nichimon. The date is the First Year of Koan, Seventh Month; Fifth Day; or July 5th 1278. That is the same date as the Rinbo Gohonzon {# 051}; which it resembles. It is also similar to the Bhikkhu Nikken Honzon {# 052} from the same month.

Mandala # 50 has two popular names. I am not sure of the reading of either. One is likely the Wakamiya Gohonzon. Wakamiya is a street in Kamakura leading to the Hachiman Shrine; the site of Nichiren's famous scolding of Hachiman, on 12th September, 1271. The other popular name is read either Takeuchi or Takenai. Take is used as a translation of the Sanskrit Venu, meaning Bamboo Grove. It can just mean bamboo. Uchi or nai is used as a translation of adhyatma; meaning internal or personal, It can also mean inner, within, home, house, hut, between, or among. Takeuchi is also a common Japanese given or surname.

Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon # 049; Never Aging, Never Dying Honzon?

Gohonzon # 049 in the 日蓮聖人御本尊集 {Nichiren Shonin Gohonzon Catalog}.

• Era & Year {年}: 弘安 {koan} 1年 {nen}; First year of the Koan Era -- 1278
• Month; Moon {月}: seventh -- July
  
• Day; Sun {日}: Unknown
• Nichiren's Laudatory Inscription {讃文}: none
  
• Side Phrases Rearranged: 此經則爲 閻浮提人 病之良薬 若有人病 得聞是經 病即 消滅 不老 不死 {shi kyo soku i en-bu-dai nin byo no ro-yaku nya-u [nyaku yu] nin byo toku bun shi kyo byo soku sho metsu fu-ro fu-shi }

1. Top Left {right facing}: 病即 消滅 {byo soku sho-metsu} Sickness is instantly cured.
   
2. Left Side {right facing}:.此經則爲 閻浮提人 病之良薬 {shi kyo soku i en-bu-dai nin byo no ro-yaku } This Sutra Model serves the people of Jambudvipa as a skillful medicine for human illness.
   
3. Top Right {left facing}: 不老 不死 {fu-ro fu-shi} Never aging, never dying.
   
4. Right Side {left facing}: 若有人病 得聞是經 {nya-u [nyaku yu] nin byo toku bun shi kyo} If any sick person is able to hear this sutra.

• Conferral; Recipient {授与書}: None
• Kept at / Housed at Possession {所蔵}: 静岡県 岩本 実相寺 Shizuoka Iwamoto Jissoji
  
• Nickname / Popular Name {通称}: None I know of; though this could be called the 病即消滅本尊 {Byo Soku Sho-metsu} Instant Eradication of Sickness Honzon or 不老 不死 本尊 {Fushi Furo} Never Aging, Never Dying Honzon.
• Sheets {紙数}: 1
  
• Width {幅}: 23.9 cm / 9.4 inches
• Height {丈}: 33 cm / 12.99 inches

Rearranged. the phrase is almost identical to one of the phrases on the Kito Honzon (# 037): 此經則爲 閻浮提人 病之良薬 若人有病 得聞是經 病即 消滅 不老 不死 {shi kyo soku i en-bu-dai nin byo no ro-yaku nyaku nin yu byo toku bun shi kyo byo soku shu-metsu fu-ro fu-shi}.

"This sutra is truly a splendid medicine for the diseases of the people of Jambudvipa. A sick person who hears this will be immediately cured of his disease. He will not grow old or die before his time." ~~ Passages Inscribed on the Prayer Gohonzon

"This sutra provides good medicine for the ills of the people of Jambudvipa. If a person who has an illness is able to hear this sutra, then his illness will be wiped out and he will know neither old age or death." from the Yakuo [Medicine King] Chapter of the LS. {Watson translation}