Gohonzon

Gohonzon (御本尊) is a generic term for a venerated religious object in Japanese Buddhism. It may take the form of a scroll or statuary. The term gohonzon typically refers to the mainstream use of venerated objects within Nichiren Buddhism, referring to the calligraphic paper mandala inscribed by the 13th Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren to which devotional chanting is directed.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Linguistically, the rootword honzon (本尊) derives from ancient word konpon-sogyo, signifying a devotional object of respect or worship,^[5] and with the honorific go- (御) prefix.^[6]

Varying Nichiren groups accord their own meanings to the term gohonzon in different ways, signifying their treatment of the object:

"Object of Devotion" — Soka Gakkai^[7]
"Object of Worship" — Nichiren Shōshū^[8]
"The Great Mandala, Venerated Supreme" — Nichiren-shū sects^[9]^[10]

Paper scroll gohonzon are sometimes known as kakejiku gohonzon or moji-mandala (文字曼荼羅, "script mandala"). The term butsuzo gohonzon is used for statuary.^{[citation needed]} Gohonzon are often enshrined within an altar shrine (butsudan).^[11]

^ Stone, Jacqueline Ilyse (2003). Original Enlightenment and the Transformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism. University of Hawaii Press. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-8248-2771-7.
^ Turner, Bryan S.; Salemink, Oscar (2014). Routledge Handbook of Religions in Asia. Routledge. p. 381. ISBN 9781317636465. What distinguishes Nichiren from other forms of Japanese Buddhism (Zen being one of these) is, among other things, the centrality of the Gohonzon, an object of devotion. The term "gohonzon" can be used generically to refer to any object that is venerated but in the Nichiren tradition, there is an immediate, initial meaning that "gohonzon" has. It refers to Nichiren's moji-Mandala Gohonzon, a hanging paper scroll with Buddhist phrases written in ink in both kanji and Sanskrit, and usually with the Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, the central mantra of Nichiren Buddhism. It translates to 'To devote oneself to the Wonderful Law of the Lotus Sutra.'
^ "About Rissho Kosei-kai, a Buddhist organization". Archived from the original on 17 September 2016.
^ "Gohonzon". Dictionary.com. Colliers Encyclopedia.
^ Blum, Mark L.; Yasutomi, Shinya (2005). Rennyo. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195132755.
^ Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged (2012). HarperCollins Publishers
^ "Soka Gakkai (Global)".
^ "An Introduction to True Buddhism" (PDF). p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
^ "International Nichiren Shu Temples | Nichiren Shu Portal".
^ Christensen, J. A. (2000). Nichiren. Fremont, Calif.: Jain Publishing Co. p. 100. ISBN 9780875730868.
^ Chryssides, George D.; Wilkins, Margaret (2006). A reader in new religious movements. London [u.a.]: Continuum. p. 29. ISBN 9780826461674.

[1] Stone, Jacqueline Ilyse (2003). Original Enlightenment and the Transformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism. University of Hawaii Press. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-8248-2771-7.

[2] Turner, Bryan S.; Salemink, Oscar (2014). Routledge Handbook of Religions in Asia. Routledge. p. 381. ISBN 9781317636465. What distinguishes Nichiren from other forms of Japanese Buddhism (Zen being one of these) is, among other things, the centrality of the Gohonzon, an object of devotion. The term "gohonzon" can be used generically to refer to any object that is venerated but in the Nichiren tradition, there is an immediate, initial meaning that "gohonzon" has. It refers to Nichiren's moji-Mandala Gohonzon, a hanging paper scroll with Buddhist phrases written in ink in both kanji and Sanskrit, and usually with the Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, the central mantra of Nichiren Buddhism. It translates to 'To devote oneself to the Wonderful Law of the Lotus Sutra.'

[3] "About Rissho Kosei-kai, a Buddhist organization". Archived from the original on 17 September 2016.

[4] "Gohonzon". Dictionary.com. Colliers Encyclopedia.

[5] Blum, Mark L.; Yasutomi, Shinya (2005). Rennyo. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195132755.

[6] Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged (2012). HarperCollins Publishers

[7] "Soka Gakkai (Global)".

[8] "An Introduction to True Buddhism" (PDF). p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.

[9] "International Nichiren Shu Temples | Nichiren Shu Portal".

[10] Christensen, J. A. (2000). Nichiren. Fremont, Calif.: Jain Publishing Co. p. 100. ISBN 9780875730868.

[11] Chryssides, George D.; Wilkins, Margaret (2006). A reader in new religious movements. London [u.a.]: Continuum. p. 29. ISBN 9780826461674.

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