Title: Rissho Ankokuron (On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land), Copied Date of 1260 (Bun'ō 1), but Likely Circa 1550-1650. Rare Manuscript Copy of Nichiren’s Treatise on How to Bring Peace and Security to Japan.
Author: Nichiren; Anonymous Monk or Scribe
Condition: Good
A rather rare, Late Muromachi to Early Edo Period, mid 16th to early 17th century manuscript edition of Nichiren’s Rissho Ankokuron, also known as On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land.
A Japanese Buddhist treatise first written in 1260, Nichiren presented it as a petition to the regent Hōjō Tokiyori, but it was ignored and brought the anger of the authorities down on Nichiren, leading to his subsequent exile. The work consists of a single book in ten paragraphs, taking the form of a dialogue between "a visitor" and "the master", and is written in kanbun. It propounds the idea that placing one's faith in the Lotus Sutra protect the safety of the nation, and in it, Nichiren invokes the fear of natural disasters, famine and plague and quotes from a variety of Buddhist sutras to demonstrate that the reason for such problems is the failure of the sovereign to embrace the correct religious doctrine.
This manuscript perfectly copies the original text, with the very same date of Bun'ō 1 copied, and although a copy of several centuries later, is still relatively rare among institution holdings and auction records.
One manuscript in quarto (27.7 x 17.5 cm), 36 leaves
This manuscript is in good shape, with worming and wear to the binding, and the upper cord is lacking. There is worming throughout, impacting the upper and lower margins of the first and last third of the manuscript. There is some browning throughout.