The summary of the Zenkoji Engi
(The Origin of the Zenkoji Amida Triad)
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The Zenkoji Amida Triad is called as "Sangokudenrai(Three-Kingdom-Transmission; India, Paekcke and Japan) Ikkousanzon (triad) Amida Nyorai", because of Amitabha Tathagata flanked by standing depictions of two attendant Bodhisattvas. It's also called "Living Amida Triad "as the casting copy of the Amida Triad which is in the west Gokuraku Jodo( Paradise Pure Land ). And it is the first Buddhist icon in Japan and that lay people referred to it as "Honshi Nyorai (The Original Buddha)". |
I. Gakkai and Princess Nyoze (Mural; A)
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The story begins in India, in the kingdom of Vishari about 2500years ago. Shaka who is the founders of Buddhism teaches of it. He helps the people to make a new man of nausea and to disabuse the people. Gakkai, a wealthy man, has a lot of shekels. He is miserly, unbelieving and enfant gate. At the age of 51 he has a exquisite daughter named Princess Nyoze. He dotes on her. Shaka has compassion on and tries to reform Gakkai. He sends three disciples ( Sharihotsu, Kyoubonhadai and Ragora ) to Gakkai's gate to beg, but Gakkai does not go to hear them. Shaka himself goes to Gakkai's with them, he does not.
On this time, a serious pestilence spreads the kingdom of Vishari, and Princess Nyoze catches. Gakkai summoned a famous doctor named Giba, but the latter can do nothing and gave up despair. People encourage Gakkai to the grove named "Dairin Syojya", to the assistance of Shaka, but he still refuses. But the parental feeling is all-time, at last Gakkai made a pilgrimage to shaka's residence and implored his help in saving his daughter. Shaka says "If you could help your daughter, maybe you also could help the other sick people. As the meeting brings the parting, Death will have his day. that's the way of the world. You could not sure it by your selfish want. Go back home and watch her die. "Gakkai says "How can I do without your help? Before her death I would pass away." and he is dissolved in tears. Shaka sees that, and explains that in the west there is a Buddha called Amida with his two attendants named Kannon and Seishi who can offer salvation for not only her but also all of the sick people of the Kingdom, and instructs Gakkai to return to his home and pray to Amida Buddha. |
II. Amida triad appears (Mural; B)
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On getting home, Gakkai dutifully obeys to face west and pray to Amida Buddha ten times. And "I pray fervently for out of hellfire, With divine charity to everything, break free from the lust". Then Amida, whose right hand forms a "Semui" to wipe out the fear and left do "Tou"to indulge, and his two attendants named Kannon and Seishi appear on the western gate of Gakkai. And their brilliance reach to the bed of Princess Nyoze and over the all of the sick people of the Kingdom.
Though she has already near-death , she is brought back to life. and all of the sick people gets good health. Gakkai was so profoundly grateful that he went back to Shaka. He wants Shaka to physicalize the triad for the world. Shaka instructs to make the casting copy with the "Enbudagon (noble gold)" from the Dragon King. He sends his fellow pupil named Mokuren to carry off Enbudagon there and he returns with the gold. |
III. The Zenkoji Amida triad appears (Mural; B)
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Shaka and Gakkai experience the ultimate bliss. When they pray to Enbudagon in the pot, Amida appears from the west and his brilliance shine on it. Shaka and Amida mysteriously tranceform the Gold, which gather like water, to a living manifestation of Amida Triad. It will become the main icon of Zenkoji.Gakkai heartily rejoices and builds a temple for the icon and invites in 500 Buddhist monks. He worships it for the rest of his life. |
IV. The icon of the Amida flies to Paeche (Mural; B)
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The icon of Amida has been in India for 500 years and worked the salvation of the people. It flies to Paeche (Kudara), and has been there for 1200-years. At that time of King Seimei, The Amida gives an oracle saying that he nest wishes to go to the Japan. It saddens the people of the Paeche, and finally the Amida Triad is seen off at the port of King in an extremity of grief. |
V. The Amida Triad arrives to Japan (Mural; C)
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The Amida Triad arrives at Naniwa in Settsu (Osaka) at 552, Era Kinmei, with the Buddhist objects. The subjects of the emperor Kinmei are summoned to council by him concerning whether the Buddha image from abroad should be accepted. At that time, there is a tug-of-war between Soga no Iname and Mononobe no Okoshi. Monobe no Okoshi is opposed, and Soga no Iname is in favor if it has a prayer answered. So Kinmei gives it Iname. Iname installs it in his residence named Mukuhara Temple.
In the meantime, a plague spreads through Japan, and Mononobe no Okoshi argues it because of the anger of the native gods of Japan. He burns down Mukuhara Temple and tries to melt the icon down, but fail. So he throws in the Naniwa Canal ( located in the front of the Mukuhara temple and, it also said, that is Amida-pond at Daihongan Betsuin in Osaka). |
VI. Amida triad appears from the Naniwa Canal,
and Yoshimitsu goes back home to Shinano (Mural; D)
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After a few years, Honda Yoshimitsu and his son,Yoshisuke, from Omi Village in Shinano (=Nagano), come up to the capital. When Yoshimitsu passes by Naniwa Canal, he is called "Yoshimitsu Yoshimitsu" and the Amida triad appears from the water. The triad says "Yoshimitsh, have no reason to be afraid. I am the Amida Buddha. I longs for you for so long. Go back home with me and work the salvation of the people." and explains by an oracle saying that Yoshimitsu had been Gakkai in India and King Seimei in Paeche in the in his previous life.
He was so surprised at it, but Yoshimitsu carries the triad on his back and goes back home to Shinano. His family worships it. He decides the icon needs a hall of its own. But when he enshrines it in the hall, it flies back to his house immediately. He guesses that it wants to be in his house, so it is placed in the west of his window roof.
Afterward in the Empress Kougyoku, in an oracle saying that it wish to be in Imoi Village (Now:Nagano), Yoshimitshu does that. And he makes the magnificent Buddha Hall to house the Triad that has been to India, Paeche and Japan, at 642, 1360 years ago. By Imperial command, it is named the Zenkoji after "Yoshimitsu(=Zen Kou)". |
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