AMAZING VISIT TO MYOMAN-JI, HERETICAL HEAD TEMPLE OF KEMPON HOKKE SECT, IN KYOTO

IN the afternoon of September 12, 1996, three SGI members (all Japanese, one from Tokyo and two from Kansai) made a personal visit to Myomanji, the Head Temple of Kempon Hokke Shu (KHS) in Kyoto. This is their experience. What they saw is completely contradictory from what Bruce Maltz and other KHS members in America have been writing on the Internet.

NO MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN BRANCH TEMPLES IN TOKYO

First, one of our members wanted to get some reference materials of KHS in Tokyo. He called some branch temples of KHS in Tokyo, but the answers were the same -- such materials are only available at the Head Temple Myomanji in Kyoto. So, he decided to travel to Kyoto. It happened to be Tatsunokuchi Persecution day, and everybody was excited about this first visit to the Head Temple of KHS.

A TEMPLE FOR SIGHTSEEING

From Kyoto station, a friend of ours drove us to Myomanji, which is located in the North-East suburban area of Kyoto, near the Kyoto International Conference Center. The temple was difficult to find. There was only one sign saying "Myomanji" on the way, and that's it. We passed the place, and checked the map, and came back to find a small temple near a residential area.

As we entered the temple grounds, we saw an office building on the right, a strange looking pagoda on the left, and the Hondo, the Main Prayer Hall in the middle. On entering the office building, we saw a box with a note "Sightseeing fee - 300 Yen". (300 Yen is approximately $3.) Photo A: Sign says: Please pay sight-seeing fee, 300 Yen, to this box.

The office was empty. The temple was quiet. No one was walking in the temple site. We had to wait for ten minutes until an acolyte passed by. There was a showcase in which some documents of the sect were displayed. There were two English booklets on display, but we were told that English booklets are only on sale at the Hosshoji-Temple in Chiba, where Rev. Kubota lives. We bought only Japanese documents.

We asked the acolyte some questions about what kind of activity there is at the temple, but he did not know anything. Then we were introduced to a young priest. We learned that only 7 or 8 acolytes enter the priesthood per year in the entire KHS. They will become "priests" after one year of training.

The entire number of priests in Japan is 150, while there are about 200 temples throughout Japan. We asked how the temples could function without enough number of priests. We were told that one Chief priest has to oversee several temples.

The temple consists of an office building, the living quarters, a Hondo (main prayer hall), the Busshari-to (a Pagoda with the Buddha's ashes) and a graveyard. See the aerial photo which was included in the Myomanji pamphlet. In this photo, buildings in the upper right portion and lower left portion are regular houses. The temple is located in the middle of a general residential area. Photo B: Areal photo of Myomanji

We figured out that the size of the entire temple site is about 600 yards wide and 400 yards deep. Approximately 20% of the area is a graveyard and there seems to be about 1,000 graves. Photo C: Large graveyard

NO GOHONZON IN THE HONDO

We went to the Hondo. There was nobody except us. It looks like a typical heretical Japanese temple with golden decorations hanging from the ceiling (see the following Photo D).

A curtain with a pattern of golden birds is surrounding the Honzon-area. We looked inside, but we could not find the Gohonzon!!!!Photo E: No Gohonzon in the Hondo!!!

We saw a black statue in the center and a small plate (about 6 inches wide and 2 feet tall, on which only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was written) standing behind the statue [see also Photo E].

We went back to the office and asked the young priest several questions. Then, he showed us the small Gohonzon which was laying on the office desk. The size was about 3 by 7 inches with yellow-red background material. It looks entirely different from what we saw at a KHS member's house in America, which is much larger and has a blue colored silk-background. However, the calligraphy of the Gohonzon is the same as what American KHS members have.

Indeed, the Gohonzon is a copy of the Nichiren-inscribed Gohonzon. We asked him why the Gohonzon is so small. He explained that there are several different sizes of the Gohonzon, and that, depending on the size of the Butsudan (altar), a believer could choose a desired size of Gohonzon.

He casually spread this small Gohonzon on his left palm, and explained with his right pointing finger touching the Gohonzon. According to his explanation, the statue in the Hondo is that of Nichiren Shonin and all other figures, such as Shakyamuni, Taho and other Bodhisattvas, were made of statues, instead of writings. He explained that the entire Honzon-area, which consists of the Nichiren Shonin’s statue, a plate of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and all other statues, are indeed the Gohonzon of this head temple. We asked why the Gohonzon was displayed in that way. The answer was that, in Japan, many Shingon Esoteric Buddhist temples have a custom of expressing the Honzon with statues, instead of writings. We went back to the Hondo, and confirmed that Shakyamuni, Taho, and other Bodhisattvas are indeed made of smaller statues located on the both sides of the plate of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo [Photo E].

In front of the statue of Nichiren Daishonin, three Toba (a thin wood plate with about 3 inches wide and 3 foot tall) were standing [Photo E]. From left to right, they were: All souls of all war victims in the world; All souls of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (entire universe); and All souls of deceased ancestors of all Japanese branch temple members.

NICHIREN HAS INSCRIBED THE DAI-GOHONZON

We then looked around and found 24 framed pictures on the wall above the sliding doors of the Hondo. They are chronological picture stories of Nichiren Daishonin. The most interesting one was located after Sado Exile.

It was titled, "Inscription of Dai-Mandala." From the picture, the size of the Dai-Mandala can be estimated as 3 feet by 10 feet. Photo F: The Inscription of the Dai-Mandala . This was not in Sado Island, because several priests, all well dressed, were watching Nichiren Daishonin who was writing the special Dai-Mandala with sumi-ink and a brush.

Needless to say, this is the illustration of the inscription of the Dai-Gohonzon. (This is particularly important, because Bruce and other KHS members have been writing that the Dai-Gohonzon in Taisekiji is a fake.)

Nichiren Daishonin was not writing on a wood plate, but this is understandable because the Daishonin was not a craftsman who can carve letters with a chisel.

We asked later the young priest when and where Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Dai-Mandala, which was shown in a picture story in the Main Prayer Hall.

He did not know. Then, he found another elderly priest and asked him. This second priest did not know either. We asked where the Kempon Hokke Gohonzon (Nichiren-inscribed Gohonzon) came from. They could not answer this question either.

We opened a booklet which we had bought earlier. It is the #396 issue (September 1996) of "Hotoke no Hikari" (Light of the Buddha) edited by Rev. Tetsujo Kubota and published by Hosshoji-Temple, Kempon Hokke Bukkokukai (Kempon Hokke Buddha Land Association) .Photo G: A Booklet - Hotoke no Hikari

On page 4 at the third line, Rev. Kubota wrote, "In the faith of Kempon Hokke, we embrace the 'Myoho-Dai-Gohonzon.' which Nichiren Shonin inscribed with his entire life." (see the following Photo H.)

On the same page at the eighth to eleventh lines, he wrote, "All believers of Kempon Hokke should refrain from rude words and behaviors, and practice to become a person who is respected because of modest and merciful conducts. No matter how much a member might chant O-Daimoku, it would not do any good if one's character is lowly and if one is disgraced by others." (There must be MEMBERS who do not behave properly in KHS).

At the 17th-19th lines, he wrote, "When I confer Gohonzon (to members), I sign my name in the back of the Gohonzon. Unless it is 'Eye-opened' (Kaigen) by myself, it would provide neither benefit nor protection." [See also Photo H] (Rev. Kubota seems to have a supernatural power.)

Rev. Kubota is the Chief Priest of Hosshoji and Houzouji. On the backcover of the "Hotoke no Hikari", there is a memo saying, "If nobody is at Hosshoji, please call Taianji." The lack of resident priests is obvious. Photo G-2: The lack of resident priests

We also read a small pamphlet titled, "Shinto Hittai" (Believers must carry, 2nd edition) published by Myomanji. [Photo-I]

It encourages a believer to have a funeral conducted by the Kempon Hokke priest when someone dies, and thereafter, to conduct as many memorial services as possible (see the following Photo J).

The dates specified are: 7th day, 49th day, 1st year, 2nd year, followed by 7th, 13th, 17th, 23rd, 27th, 33rd, 37th, and 50th year. It also encourages believers to prepare "Toba" (stupa or a thin wood plate) as many as possible and as often as possible. It also explained that a believer has to ask the priest to come and pray whenever new Gohonzon, new statue, new "O-Ihai" (a small wood plate to be kept on the altar on which the name of the deceased is written), and new gravestones are prepared. Then, as far as Gongyo is concerned, it explained that a believer has to offer prayer twice a day to both the Gohonzon and the deceased ancestors.As to arrangement of the altar, there is an illustration on page 50. [Photo-K]

It shows that the Gohonzon is in the back, and then comes the statue of Nichiren Daishonin, then on both sides, O-Ihai of ancestors, and the offering, flowers, incense burner and candle stands. (There is no word on the necessity of having the statue of Shakyamuni.) It also explains on page 55 that the most important thing in the altar is the Gohonzon, but the second important thing is O-Ihai, because the soul of the deceased lives forever, and lives in O-Ihai. (This is the religion of ancestor worship, including the belief that the soul of the deceased lives in the wood plate.)

According to the "Shinto Hittai", the So-Honzan (Head Temple) is Myomanji. The next rank is Bekkaku (an extra status) So-Honzan, which includes Myohoji (Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Pref.) and Tenmyokokuji (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo). Next important temples are Honryuji (Kisarazu City, Chiba) and Myomatsuji (Shizuoka). It is interesting to note that Hosshoji, the temple where Rev. Kubota lives, is not even included in these high-ranking temples.

THREE MAJOR TREASURES OF MYOMANJI

The pamphlet of Myomanji describes that there are several special treasures of the temple, and the following three items seem to be particularly important to understand the essence of Kempon Hokke Shu:

1. A bell related to a tragic love affair

Inside the Hondo, on the right side of the Honzon area, there was a bell, and a Sambo (a small wood stand customary used for offering). Photo N: A bell related to a tragic love affair We went to see what it is. There were about twenty coins thrown on the Sambo. The story of the bell goes like this:

In Kishu Dojoji-temple (in Wakayama prefecture), a religious practitioner called Anchin was practicing. He was actually a brother of Emperor Sujyaku. In 928 A.D., he stayed at the house of the landlord, Kiyotsugu, whose daughter Kiyohime fell in love with Anchin.

Anchin left, promising to come back, but he never did. A resenting Kiyohime chased Anchin and found him in Dojoji. Anchin hid in a bell, but Kiyohime burned him with the bell. Kiyohime died by throwing herself into a river. Four hundred years later, a new bell was donated to Dojoji, but at the completion ceremony, a dancing girl appeared and pulled down the bell, and simultaneously, she disappeared into the bell. The sounds of the new bell were terrible, and moreover, many disasters and pestilence took place in the vicinity of the temple. Therefore, the bell was buried. Some two hundred years later, one of the generals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi dug the bell out and brought to Kyoto. He then donated it to Myomanji with the expectation that the power of the Lotus Sutra would soothe the spirits of Anchin and Kiyohime. Indeed, the sounds of the bell became beautiful. Since then, it has been the treasure of the temple. This story is known as "Musume Dojoji" (a daughter and Dojoji), and is one of the most popular themes in Japanese traditional arts, such as Naga-uta, Japanese dance, Kabuki and Noh-play.

Many entertainers of classic Japanese arts visit this temple to pray to the bell for their success. Every spring at Myomanji, in order to console the souls of Anchin and Kiyohime, a big memorial service of this bell is held, with many famous entertainers invited. This is the most important and the best attended national ceremony of Myomanji throughout the year.

We were told that there are only three national gatherings at the Head Temple Myomanji: this memorial service of the bell, a Spring memorial service of believers' ancestors in May, and O-Taiya in October, which commemorates the passing of Nichiren Daishonin. All the believers in Japan are encouraged to attend these events, but the number never exceeds 1,000. (According to the most recent religious statistics, the entire membership of KHS in Japan is 96,775 households.)

2. Indian Pagoda with Shakyamuni's Ashes

We went out of the Hondo and visited the "Busshari-To", a Pagoda which enshrines Shakyamuni's ashes (relics of the Buddha). This is another special treasure of Myomanji. Photo O: Indian Pagoda with Shakyamuni's Ashes . It is the first Pagoda built in Japan which imitates the original stupa in Bodhgaya in India (where Shakyamuni attained enlightenment) which was built by King Ashoka to enshrine Shakyamuni's ashes. At the top of this Pagoda, Shakyamuni's ashes are said to be enshrined, and the basement is used for the storage of ashes of believers. At the ground level, there is a statue of Shakyamuni, and in front of the statue, there is a big wooden "Saisen Bako" (a box in which people tosses coins praying for good fortune. Much the same way as a "lucky fountain" in America). Photo P: Shakyamuni's statue and a box to collect money

In front of the Pagoda, there is a tall wooden stupa with the writing of "Namu-Shakyamuni- Butsu" (not Namu-myoho-renge-kyo). This shows that Japanese Kempon Hokke believers worship the ashes of Shakyamuni Buddha, but not the eternal Shakyamuni.

This is a serious violation against the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, which American KHS members revere as the most sacred teachings. In the 10th Chapter (The Teacher of the Law). Shakyamuni said, "Medicine King, in any place whatsoever where this sutra is preached, where it is read, where it is recited, where it is copied, or where a roll of it exists, in all such places there should be erected towers made of the seven kinds of gems, and they should be made very high and broad and well adorned. There is no need to enshrine the relics of the Buddha there. Why? Because in such towers the entire body of the Thus Come One is already present." (The Lotus Sutra, translated by Burton Watson, p. 165, Columbia University Press).

3. A portrait of a Samurai general who invaded Korea

According to the Myomanji pamphlet, another major treasure of the temple is a portrait of Kato Kiyomasa, a famous Samurai general who served under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Photo Q: Samurai believer Kato Kiyomasa According to the pamphlet, Kiyomasa was an earnest believer in the Lotus Sutra, and in fighting battles, he carried a flag banner with the inscription of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

At the age of 50, Kiyomasa inscribed Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and signed his title and name as "Jyu-Yon-I Jijyu Fujiwara Kiyomasa, at 50 years old." [See Photo Q] Jyu-Yon-I Jijyu was his title and rank in the Imperial Court. He then put paint on his right hand and stamped it onto the scroll. He donated this to Myomanji. Then, Mitsunori Tosa (a famous painter of Tosa-School) made a portrait of Kiyomasa, which became one of the important treasures of the temple.

However, this is a strange treasure for several reasons:

Inscribing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo on a scroll with his signature and stamp, and donating it to a temple is almost the same as inscribing the Gohonzon. Can a Samurai general do it? Isn't it a slander?

He signed his title and rank in the Imperial Court on the scroll. For a Samurai, which is originally a very low status in the feudalistic era, to be enrolled into the Imperial Court and given a high rank was considered to be a tremendous honor. However, we have to recall that Nichiren Daishonin scolded his disciple, Sanmi-Bo, who was proud of giving a lecture in the Imperial Court. In Daishonin's Buddhism, everyone is equal. To be proud of having a high rank in the Imperial Court is against Daishonin's teachings.

Kiyomasa invaded Korea in an attempt to make the country a colony of Japan. Actually, the resistance by the Korean army was so strong that Kiyomasa's attempt failed and the army had to retreat. Buddhism was introduced to Japan from Korea. Many artistic products and cultural traditions were also introduced to Japan from Korea for the period of many centuries. Japan owes a great debt of gratitude to Korea. How could a Samurai, who carried the flag of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, invade Korea in an attempt to conquer it? Is this the way a disciple of Nichiren Daishonin should behave?

The act of Kiyomasa seems to be very similar to the nationalistic, fanatic Nichiren School before WWII which was headed by Chigaku Tanaka. Under his influence, Ikki Kita, another fanatic Nichiren believer, led a military coup on February 26, 1934 (known as the 2.26 Incident), killing 2 liberal Ministers of the government and trying to overthrow the civilian government. Kita was executed because of his fanatic belief and conduct. The militarization of Japan was escalated after this incident, leading to WWII, and eventually took the life of Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the First President of Soka Kyoiku Gakkai.

During WWII, all Nichiren Schools cooperated the war conduct of Japanese government. Kempon Hokke Shu followed the government's order to unite itself with Minobu Nichiren School. Both schools praised and cooperated with Japan's war efforts. Nichiren Shoshu priesthood also cooperated with Japanese government. Only Mr. Makiguchi and Mr. Toda resisted against militaristic government and proved themselves to be true disciples of Nichiren Daishonin. The fact that Kempon Hokke Shu treasures the portrait of Kato Kiyomasa, who was a fanatic Nichiren believer invading Korea, suggests that Kempon Hokke Shu does not reflect on its cooperation with war efforts of Japanese militaristic government, which exploited Korea, invaded China and attacked Pearl Harbor.

CONCLUSIONS: 

(1) The Head Temple Myomanji is a sight-seeing site. 
(2) The Kempon Hokke Shu in Japan is a typical funeral-conducting religion,
much the same as other heretical, and even esoteric sects in Japan. Their
main concern is to maintain graveyards for believers, and receive offerings
from believers for conducting funerals and memorial services. Believers
are encouraged to ask priests to conduct as many memorial services as possible.
The major roles of the priests are conducting funerals and prayers on various
occasions. 
(3) There are not enough priests to fill all of the 200 temples
in Japan. The believers belong directly to each temple (forming a Danto
system). This is a small sect in Japan; the current membership in Japan
is 96,775 households. 
(4) There is no Nichiren-inscribed Gohonzon in the
Hondo of Head temple. Yet, evidence suggests that the Dai-Gohonzon inscribed
by Nichiren Daishonin is the core of the faith of Kempon Hokke Shu. 
(5) One of the treasures of the Head temple is the bell related to a tragic
love affair. The biggest annual activity of the Head Temple is to console
the souls of the emperor's brother and his lover, both of whom died in
a tragic love affair. 
(6) Another temple treasure is a pagoda in which Shakyamuni's
ashes are said to be enshrined. A visitor prays to the ashes of Shakyamuni
and throws coins to the Statue of Shakyamuni (or to the bell as well),
praying for good fortune. 
(7) To enshrine Relics of the Buddha and pray
to them are against the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. 
(8) A portrait of Samuraigeneral, who was a fanatic believer of the Lotus Sutra and who invaded
Korea, is also one of the important treasures of Myomanji. 
(9) Temples of Kempon Hokke Shu do not have enough reference materials for visitors. Even
at the Head Temple, we could not collect enough publications of the sect.
(10) The handling of the Gohonzon by a priest at the Head Temple Myomanji
was awful. There was no sign of respect to the Gohonzon. This is consistent
with the mentality of American KHS. American KHS prints a photocopy of
the Gohonzon on the first page of their Gongyo book. The Gohonzon is also
vailable through mail-order ($200). 
(11) Priests of Myomanji did not know when and where Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Dai-Mandala, which was
shown in a picture story in the Main Prayer Hall. They did not know either
where the Kempon Hokke's Gohonzon (Nichiren-inscribed Gohonzon) came from.
(12) We could not find any sign of efforts for establishing world peace at
the Head Temple Myomanji. 
(13) Everything is contradictory to what Bruce Maltz and other American KHS members have been writing on the Internet.
(14) Only one thing was in accord with what Bruce has been saying. That
is "There is no organization in KHS." This indicates that KHS is simply "a funeral-conducting religion" and is not interested
in world Kosen-rufu.
(15) Bruce and other KHS members have been attacking
Nchiren Shushu and SGI by saying that the Dai-Gohonzon is a fake. However,
various evidences suggest that Japanese Kempon Hokke Shu advocates that
Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the special Dai-gohonzon. 
(16) The fact that Mr. H. Graham Lamont, a scholar who had studied much about Minobu Nichiren
Shu, started American KHS, suggests that Lamont, together with Bruce, created
a new religion by combining doctrines of Minobu Nichiren Shu (which denies
the authenticity of the Dai-Gohonzon and of the successor, 2nd High Priest
Nikko) and Kempon Hokke Shu. 
(17) For American KHS members, Rev. Kubota
(who does not live at the Head Temple Myomanji, but is the Chief Priest
of a local, branch temple, Hosshoji in Chiba, East of Tokyo), may be issuing
the Gohonzon which is different from what Japanese KHS members are receiving.
The Gohonzon for American has blue silk background, while that for Japanese
has yellow-red paper background. The American one is much larger than the
Japanese one. The American Gohonzon has a similar size to those conferred
by Taisekiji or SGI, but is made with a silk background, so that it looks
artistically beautiful. 
(18) Rev. Kubota claims that the Gohonzon, which
does not have his signature in the back, has no power. 
(19) Hosshoji, whereRev. Tetsujo Kubota lives, is not a high-ranking temple in the Kempon Hokke
Sect. He organizes the Kempon Hokke Bukkokukai (Buddha Land Association).
The Association constitutes his temple-Danto activity. Just like any other
temple in Japan, a branch temple could have its own activity independent
of the Head Temple. The Association publishes Rev. Kubota's own books,
and may issue its own Gohonzon for foreign members. 
(20) Two American KHS groups -- Hokke Kai International (headed by Bruce Maltz) and Myomanji
Society of the Kempon Hokke Sect (by Marc Strumpf) -- are two different
Danto groups of this branch temple, Hosshoji in Chiba, Japan. Although
they both belong to the same temple, two groups fight each other using
the Internet like cats and dogs. 
(21) There is no activity for Kosen-rufu in KHS. There are only about a dozen American KHS members who are Danto
members of Hosshoji. Their major activity is to post in the Internet every
night attacking Nichiren Shoshu or SGI and to cause a doubt in reader's
mind with a hope that some one, who is weak in faith or who does not understand
the essence of Buddhism, may convert to KHS. 
(22) All American KHS members
have never visited their Head Temple, Myomanji, in Kyoto. They just have
a blind faith in what's posted in the Internet.