The Hon-in-myou Dai-honzon Kai-gen-mei 本因妙大本尊開眼銘

Mannen Kugo Daihonzon:

The Eye Opening inscription on

The Hon-in-myou Daihonzon

( Part I )

The Eye opening inscription on the reverse of the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon

The term “Mannen Kugo Daihonzon” is derived from the “eye-opening inscription” (kaigen-mei 開眼銘) engraved on the reverse of the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon. It means: “Great Object of Worship that saves and protects for ten thousand years.” That is to say, the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon is the Mannen Kugo Daihonzon: The Great Object of Worship that saves and protects for ten thousand years.

To put it another way, there is only one Mannen Kugo Daihonzon in the world, and that is the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon.

Kaigen (開眼) means, the opening of eyes; which indicates an awakening; or coming to life. In the case of the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon, it is the opening of “buddha eyes.” The Lotus Sutra tells us, the name of the Buddha who resides in an awesome Treasure Tower is Taho, or “Many Treasures Buddha.” What Taho Buddha actually symbolizes, is the presence of the Honmon-no-Daimoku in the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon.

Nichiren Daishounin inscribed the kaigen-mei on October 12, 1279 (Koan 2), to mark the transfer of the Honmon-no-Daimoku onto the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon. It is His exalted Life that was transferred to the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon. The Kaimoku-sho says: “…this person named Nichiren was beheaded. It is his spirit that has come to this island of Sado.” “Spirit” (Konpaku 魂魄 ) refers to the Honmon-no-Daimoku.

The Life Span chapter of the Lotus Sutra says: “I must now establish the instrument that will cause them to take this medicine.” (ga kon to sechi ho ben ryo buku shi yaku). This “instrument” (hoben 方便) is the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon: the Dharma vessel containing the Honmon-no-Daimoku. And this Honmon-no-Daimoku is the Excellent Medicine. The Life Span chapter says: “This excellent medicine is now retained here.” (ze ko ro yaku kon ru zai shi). It means Nichiren Daishounin retained the Excellent Medicine in the world as the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon; the Supreme Honzon for the “salvation and protection” of humanity.

The Eye Opening inscription reads:

“The creation and establishment of the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon.”

“The above-named object of worship represents the long cherished desire of Shakya and various Buddhas appearing in the world.”

“Tis the real thing! Tis the real thing!”

“This One Great Matter is the secret that is retained solely to save and protect for the duration of ten thousand years.”

“When the Sovereign comes to upholds this Law, this must be enshrined in the Main Hall of Honmonji.”

“The twelfth day of the tenth month, the second year of Koan; the cyclical signs tsuchinoto-u.”

By decree of Nichiren (Nichiren Zaigohan)

造立本因妙大本尊右本尊者釈迦諸仏出世之本懐也

真実真実

唯為一大事之秘密然間万年救護為之留

国主被立此法者可奉懸本門寺本堂

弘安二年太才己卯十月十二日

日蓮在御判

Explanatory notes:

1. “The above-named object of worship” (Migi honzon 右本尊) is the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon.

2. “Long cherished desire” (Hon-kai 本懐) refers to the purpose of Nichiren Daishounin’s advent, which is to inscribe the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon; representing the advent of Shakya and various buddhas.

3. “Tis the real thing!” (Shin-jitsu 真実) emphasizes the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon as the objective reality.

4. “This One Great Matter” (Ichi-dai-ji 一大事) refers to the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon as the object of worship par excellence; the Supreme object of worship.

5. “Secret” (Hi-mitsu 秘密) means the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon will be kept hidden until the advent of Bodhisattva Jogyo; the Messenger who will widely propagate this Hon-in-myou Daihonzon.

6. “Retained” (Todomu 留) means to leave behind the Honmon-no-Daimoku in the world, in the form of the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon. This corresponds to the phrase in the Life Span chapter: “I must now establish the instrument that will cause them to take this medicine.” And also: “This excellent medicine is now retained here.”

7. “Ten thousand years” (Mannen 万年) refers to the Age of the Final Law (Mappo 末法), or more accurately, the Age of the Unprecedented Law (Mi-zo-u-ho 未曾有法).

8. “Save and protect” (Ku-go 救護) refers to the power of the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon; containing the Excellent Medicine that balances the body and mind of people in Mappo.

9. “Honmonji” (本門寺) is the name designated by Nichiren Daishounin, for the Honmon-no-Kaidan that would house the Supreme Object of Worship; the Hon-in-myou Daihonzon.

10. “Tsuchinoto-u” (己卯) = year of the Rabbit = 1279 (Koan 2)

Proceed to part II

Return to top of page Home