The Writing to the Lord Funamori Yasaburo 1. 船守弥三郎殿許御書一

The Writing to the Lord Funamori Yasaburo.　船守弥三郎殿許御書

■執筆時期:弘長元年（1261）六月二十七日 四十歳御作。

■Time of writing: June 27 (1261), the first year in the Kocho era, at the age of 40.

■執筆場所:伊豆・伊東の伊東八郎左衛門尉の屋敷にて。

■Place: Ito Hachiro-zaemon-no-jo's residence in Ito, Izu Province.

■執筆の背景:　伊豆川奈伊東の漁師船守弥三郎への手紙。弘長元年5月12日に大聖人が伊豆に流された折、船を降りて疲労している大聖人を弥三郎が発見して助けた。船守弥三郎夫妻は、伊東の地頭伊東八郎左衛門(荘園領主)の屋敷に移るまでの30余日間、大聖人を匿っていた。また、巻頭に「笹の葉で包んだ白玉、酒、ご飯、山椒、紙などをいただきました。」とあるように、大聖人を批判する地元の人々に内緒で人から人への多くの供物を捧げ続けた。大聖人は法華経寿量品を引用して、『釈迦仏は 「私は宇宙が始まった最初に成仏した。他の人を助けて守ることができるのは私だけだ。」「人」 とは私たちのような生き物のことです。<...省略。>、この場合、教えの主である仏様が、あなた方夫婦として生まれ変わり、私を助けてくださったのかもしれません。』とその真心を称えた。

■Background of the writing: This is a letter sent to a fisherman Yasaburo Funamori in Kawana Ito in Izu. When Daishonin had been exiled in Izu on May 12 in the first year of the Kocho era, Yasaburo found Daishonin who went down from a ship and was suffering from fatigue and rescued him. Mr. and Mrs. Yasaburo Funamori had sheltered Daishonin during more than 30 days until he moved to the residence of Mr. Hachiro-zaemon Ito, the Jito (manager and lord of the manor) of Ito. Furthermore, as it is stated at the beginning of the book that "I received the rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, sake, dried rice, Japanese pepper, paper and others." even after he moved, he continued to hold numerous offerings by a person to a person, in secret from the local people who criticized Daishonin. Daishonin praised their sincerity, "Shakyamuni Buddha of the lord of teachings said, 'I attained Buddhahood at the beginning when space had begun. I am the only person who can rescue and protect others'. 'The person 'refers to living beings like ourselves.<...omitted.>, In this case, perhaps the Buddha, the lord of teachings, has been reborn as you and your wife and has helped me." by quoting the Lotus Sutra Juryo-chapter.

■ご真筆:現存しておりません。

■Original: No longer exists.

[船守弥三郎許御書本文]

わざわざ送っていただいたお使いから、笹団子、酒、乾燥米、山椒、紙などが届きました。彼はまた、これらの供え物は秘密にしておくべきだというあなたのメッセージを伝えた。わかりました。

I have received the rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, sake, dried rice, Japanese peppers, paper, and other items from the errand whom you took the trouble to send. He has also conveyed your message that these offerings should be kept secret. I understand it.

五月十二日、配流になって、一度も聞いたこともない港に着いた時、私は船を離れて苦しんでいた。あなたは親切に私を世話してくれた。どのような縁で私たちは出会ったのでしょうか? まさか、昔は法華経の信者であったのに、今は末法で船守弥三郎に生まれ変わってかわいそうに思っているのですか。

When, on the twelfth day of May, having been exiled to here, and arrived at that harbor I had never even heard, and I was suffering after leaving the boat. You took me into care kindly. What kind of fate has brought us meet? Can it be that, because in the past you were a votary of the Lotus Sutra, now, in the Mappo, you have been reborn as Funamori-no-Yasaburo and have taken pity on me?

男性でもそうかもしれませんが、あなたの奥さんは私に食べ物をくれたり、手足を洗う水を持ってきてくれたり、とても気遣ってくれたりして、不思議としか言いようがありません。特に、私が30日以上滞在している間、あなたは内心法華経を信じてお供え物をしてくださいました。私は鎌倉にいたときよりも、地頭やその土地の人たちに嫌われ、恨まれました。わたしを見た者たちは顔をしかめ、わたしの名前を聞いただけの者たちは腹いせに満ちていた。それなのに、5月には米が不足していたのに、あなたはこっそり私にご飯を食べさせてくれました。私の両親は伊豆の伊東の川名というところに転生したのですか?

Though a man maybe do, your wife has given me food, brought me water to wash my hands and feet with, and treated me with great concern, I can only call as wondrous.　Especially, you inwardly believed in the Lotus Sutra and made offerings to me during my more than a thirty-day stay there. I was hated and resented by a land steward and the people of the district even more than I was in Kamakura. Those who saw me scowled, while those who merely heard my name were filled with spite. And yet, though I was there when in May rice was scarce, you secretly fed me. Were my parents reincarnated in a place called Kawana, in Ito of Izu Province?

法華経四巻に「純真な男女は、法の教師に施しをする。」とあるが、これは天神地祇がさまざまな姿をなし、また男神となり、また女神となり、法華経を修する者を助けるために供物を捧げることをいう。これは、あなたとあなたの妻が男女として生まれ、法の師である日蓮にお供え物をすることを指していることは間違いありません。私は以前あなたに詳細に手紙を書いたので、この手紙を簡潔にします。

In the fourth volume of the Lotus Sutra, states, “Men and women of pure faith offer alms to the teachers of the Law.” The meaning of this sutra passage is that the heavenly gods and benevolent deities will assume various forms, become men, or become women, and present offerings to help the persons who do practice the Lotus Sutra. There can be no doubt that this refers to you and your wife being born as a man and a woman, and making offerings to Nichiren, the teacher of the Law. Since I wrote to you in detail before, I will make this letter brief.

Continued

Original Text. 　Table of Contents.