, 1870-06-05
JAPAN.

T. ~
trcn, the Buddhist Sntnt.
From Ms Ynxohama {Japaa, Fs.tlv Maz Apras.
II the e1cursionist from Yokohama, who has
halted At h4tase- will take the trouble to 20
out Of that ouo OF the two tea houses where he
is stopping, enter the temple grounds opposi.e,
aud mounting sbove tho building, reach an
elevation ftun which be can survey the dis
the Rich Scholar" (howeve1 it ia to be ready,
E1sing up in the midst, he will be amply repaid
in cleas Weather. On his way dosn he can
visit the temple below, which is called Riyo-
ko-ji 0r Jai-ko-zan, where, with l. little search,
ha will find = curious and old dilapitated pic
ture, hanging up in the wort Of Lights. This
picture represents \ man sqnattiug on tho
ground, waiting in III resignation for the exc
cutioner's sword, which Is raised On high 10
sever his head from his body. But the sword
WIS not destined to fafl. It was stayed By the
rain and fire which We see descending FROM
heaven. So, too, says tbs legend, and Of that
legend We here s i've hRa translation for the
benefit Of those who Hay find from it the
means Of Willing AWAY an idle moment at that
little spot, after they have Waited the temples
and cave OF Enoshima, and, lying lazilv upon
the Bands, hare gazed at tbs glorious view in
the distance. The story Is written By one Of
the sect Of Nichiren, and the reader will be
struck by its similarity to the legends which
abound in early Christian history. It reads as
follows:
"Eow the temple Of Ryo-ko-ii contains the
Buddhist sect Of that lame.
" In ollen times. in the summer Of the yea1
which corresponds to 4 D. 1.71, there waA
great drought throughout the land, and ali the
people were lamentla5 snrelr. Wkercupon
the Minister Hoio Tokinl1u,e called Oh his rev.
erence Riyokuan of tho Tctpplc tiokurakuii to
offer up prayers for rain. 1t this the prlests
Of that temple were greatly rejoice,1, and tvo
anonEst them, lrisawa and Suwo ty nalla,,
thinking 10 spread abroad the virtues OF Iirok-
wau, went to our Founder and recounted what
hnd happened. Our Founder, having listened
to them. answered:
~, Nichiren, have been all my life study
ing the sacred books, and l know the origin u
calamity. Now, inasmuch III in Japan men
are acoting at the religion OF Butldha. the
seven ca1auities are surely come upon U.s.
This is a matter which men do not understand.
It i as If you were to treat . man for dis
ease, the caute Of which YOU did not know.
You would simply gradually increase the dis
ease,
's Now, his reverence, Myokwan, had been
raising his voice to heaven for full fourteen
days, aud had done his utmost. But pray as
he would not even drop would fall 80 there
was nothing for it but to leave the altar and
return home.
Then our Founder on this side lifted mp
his prayers, and Iol the rain fell heavily: And
the people seeing this marveued.
but Riyokwan hArboted ever-inreasing re-
sentiment aS14nak Nlc0uen, ana WANING TO
compass his death, brought many false charges
against him TO the ears OF the Minister ToG-
mune, who was deceived by 1lyokwan, and. NOT
distinguishing the right from the wrong, or
dered Sichizen to be beheaded-
"Whe1enpon, on the twelfth day Of tho
ninth month, OF the saEne year, body OF sav-
eral hundred soldiers, AIMED cup-d-pit, forced
their way INTO Matsubagatra,*" ." seized Our
Founder, plsccd him On = horse. and led linn
into kamakur1. between y md 9 in the night
AknxH - Tp$H .~SN
they teaied him upon carpet made Of skin.r
"Then Shijo forimoto kingci knelt before
our Founder. and having already determined
to share hid fate and he his attendant to Riyo-
zan. he waited IN readiness for what might
'.At this time our Founder, joining his
hands a. in prayer, lifted up hls voice, sAying:
Now the end Of the world draweth nigh
Even thongh the good gods are leaving our
country, they will dwell IN the heads OF honest
doctrine. It cannot be That the many gods OF
our country. whether OF heaven or OF earth,
will break the covenant Of Myozau, and with
hold their protection from mo-
Before he had ended. the e1ecntioner,
Echino Saburozayenon Snoshiga, had raised
| his long sword alott, when 10 miracle. sud
| denly the earth quaked, tho thundar ro1led,
and the lightning flashed the sxord Of the
e1ecutioner was broken in three pieces, and
| he could not stir hand or toot.
"Thus Was fulfilled what is written III the
sacred books: The sword at lAhom long
shall be broken in pieces
"Non, had this miracle not taken plsce tho
revelation Of the deity 6hogyo. as ia written
been falsifed.
=. In the uhola heaven it thundared and
lightened cut Of season, meteors were reeu in
the Ky and voice proceeding from space
resonnded in the palace, saying, Should
ehae Nehi1en b, b h kil,sa be hoped The lind dol Of
eonl In the palace from Iotim1ne doNnwasds
Vas amazed 4Nichiren must BE- pardnned at
once,' they cried "A messenger on swift
horse must forthwith be despatched with !
letter Of full PARDON
41his is what is found in the sacred books
His heart was transformed, and he forthwith
| sent OF man.
"yerly every title Of his holy suffering:
sccor1s with what il written in the sac1et
books.
! At this time many convert. were made, ant
it is recorded thus:
"'In the land Of Nippon is the Province o1
Sagami n the Province Of Sagamiis kataae
and in kAtase is TAtsu-n-oKuchi. Therf
Of Hokks Klyo, and hence The p]sce ahali al
Ways he called Jakkoio.'s
"BeA1ing that in mind his reverence Eipp<
CARED holy image Of our Founder, and beg
ged that he might have the privilege of set
ting it mp in 1atsu-no-kuchi. Oar Founde1
shed tears for Joy and said: Forasmuch 3.
| this il the spot where Eichlrens ifo WAS stay
ed. our son1 sha1l stay in this image
And the holy image WIS consecrated
After that it WAS set up IN the temple and be-
came renowned for its divine efficiency II
healing.
AS is said in the books: blessed are III
thoee who retain merclfu1 feelings in thei
henrts-T Bearing this text IN mind, al WOE
| shippers who will come and pay their devotions
with the feeling that they axe worshipping hi
, holy face IN the t1esh, will not ouly be proc
against word Wounds but will eseApe calAmj
i ties of all kinda They will without doubt. b
divine grace, enjoy happiness in this world
and save their souls hereafter.
These things are to be seen written In de
: tail in the holy biography Of the Founder
: These seven calamitles are: Plague, tnxa5tou
. rebellion, portents, ecnpees, storms aod luuhda
| tons. drought
4 :" part Of EamAkura, then great city
! THE dragons mouth where the tempE no1
| stands IN kAtAse-
! | were formerly made to Ett upon skins.
: lItdoes not appear who this nan was. Probs
I | babtF Samu1M who followed the teaching
2 SlchefeH.
! sTne Mountain Of Spirits, where Shake tn
, founder Of Buddhism. ia said 70 have taken up h
abode after death.
:Ihis Il pEpye1o.