THE PICTORIAL LIFE OF SAINT NICHIREN

Scene 4 Meeting with Master Shunpan

In order to further his study of Buddhism, Rencho journeyed to the city of Kamakura, the seat of the bakufu (military government of Japan). There, for a period of four years at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, he again read the entire Buddhist canon and studied the Jodo (Pure Land) and Zen (meditation) schools of Buddhism. Subsequently he returned to Mt. Kiyosumi and then journeyed to Mt. Hiei, the center of Buddhist learning in Japan (located just outside the former capital city of Kyoto) in order to continue his studies.

While traveling along the Tokaido, the main road which stretched between Kamakura and Kyoto, Rencho stopped in the small town of Sakamoto. This stopover, just one station before entering Mt. Hiei, was a lucky one for Rencho. In this small town lived Master Shunpan, an eminent scholar from a monastery on Mt. Hiei. and it was at his residence that Rencho spent the night.

Scene 5 Study Atop Mount Hiei

Mt. Hiei was founded by the monk Saicho (767-822) and his monastic center had been accorded a royal decree by Emperor Kammu. It is said that there were about three thousand priests including students and staff on Mt. Hiei during Rencho's time. Because of Rencho's speed in mastering difficult Buddhist concepts-in spite of his youth he was soon put in charge of the Enton-bo, a hall which claims a number of famous alumni.