'Two Transfer Documents" Can be Claimed Forgeries

Nichiren Buddhism in Medieval Age (2) By Ven. Senchu Murano

Orthodoxy Question

Taisekiji Temple preserves the so-called "Two Transfer Documents." According to the Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, published by Nichiren Shoshu International Center in 1983, these documents are: 1. Nichiren Ichigo Guho Fuzoku Sho, written by Nichiren at Minobu in September 1282, in which Nichiren transferred the entirety of his teachings to Nikko and entrusted him with the mission of propagating true Buddhism, and 2. Ikegami Fuzoku Sho, written by Nichiren at the residence of Ikegami Munenaka on October 13, 1282, in which Nichiren appointed Nikko as the High Priest of Minobusan Kuonji, and proclaimed that all the disciples of Nichiren should follow Nikko. The two documents are given as the Minobu Sojo and the Ikegami Sojo respectively in the Nichiren Shu Shugaku Zensho, Vol. II.

Two Documents

The existence of the two documents was for the first time mentioned in the Hyakugojikkajo, written by Nikkyo (1428-1489) in 1480, but the wording of the two documents in this mentioning is different, from that of what are preserved at Taisekiji Temple today. This shows that several forgeries had already been made by the time of Nikkyo. It is interesting to see that Nichido (1283-1341), the fourth Chief Priest of Taisekiji Temple, clearly states in his Nikko Shonin Goden Soon (The Biography of Nikko) that Nikko stayed at Minobu for three years, not for six years.

The Minobu Sojo bears the statement that the Hornmon no Kaidan (the Precepts Platform of True Buddhism) should be established at Fujisan Hommonji. Fujisan Hommonji is another name of Nishiyama Hommonji. Nishiyama Hommonji was founded by Nichidai (1294-1394), who had been ousted from Kitayama Hommonji because of succession dispute. The Minobu Sojo must have been created by a successor of the chief priesthood of Nishiyama Hommonji.

In those days Nishiyama Hommonji was friendly with Taisekiji. Therefore, Taisekiji had no objection to keeping the document although the place of the Kaidan was assigned to Nishiyama Hommonji, not to Taisekiji. The two temples became unfriendly with each other after Taisekiji produced the ItaMandara. Incidentally, the dictionary published by the Nichiren Shoshu omits this statement about Fujisan Hommonji in the Minobu Sojo.

These forgeries were made not by Nikko but by some of his successors for the purpose of claiming that their school was orthodox while any of the other branches of Nichiren is Buddhism were not.

Political Condition

The orthodoxy question was an outcome of the unpeaceful political condition of the time. There were two dynasties in the Imperial family in those days. The split was fomented as early as in 1259, when the ExEmperor Gosaga dethroned the Emperor Gofukakusa, his first son, in favor of his second son, who became the Emperor Kameyama. Gofukakusa became the head of the Jimyointo House; and Kameyama, that of the Daikakujito House. When the Emperor Godaigo of the aikakujito House fled to Yoshino, south of Kyoto, in 1336, the Daikakujito House was called the Southern Dynasty, and the Jimyointo House, who installed the Emperor Komyo in Kyoto, was called the Northern Dynasty.

Kitabatake Chikafusa (1293-1354) wrote the Jinno-shoto-ki in 1339, in which he contended that the Southern Dynasty was the orthodox lineage of the Imperial family. The Southern Dynasty was amalgamated into the Northern Dynasty in 1392, but some people were still active in their attempts to restore the Southern Dynasty.

Published by the Nichiren Shu Headquarters & Kagai Fukyo Koenkai

Gassh __/\__ Y k, Namu Myh Renge Ky.

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