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'Why Do We Need to Translate the Writings of Nichiren Shonin?' Nichiren 138’ 03.10.7 2:19 PM ページ1 Published by the Nichiren Shu Headquarters & Kaigai Fukyo Koenkai No. 138 October 1, 2003 (1) ‘Why Do We Need to Translate the Writings of Nichiren Shonin?’ by Kyotsu Hori, Ph.D. much time and energy for our Eng- useful encyclopedic dictionaries such lish translation project. Nobody as the Nichiren Shonin Ibun Jiten Propagation Policy could do that without an unwavering –Rekishi-hen (Dictionary for Writ- Recently I was asked by the conviction that he was laying the ings of Nichiren Shonin -History) by Nichiren Shu Administrative Head- foundation for the new Nichiren Rissho Daigaku Nichiren Kyogaku quarters to translate into English a Buddhism abroad. Kenkyu-jo (Minobu-machi, Sohon- pamphlet entitled “Transmit—The zan Minobusan Kuonji, 1985) and New Step Forward, the Approach to NOPPA Publications Nichiren Shu Jiten (Encyclopedia of the New Generation.” It describes the By the time Rev. Oikawa finally Nichiren Shu) by Nichiren Shu Jiten official policy of propagation for the succumbed to cancer at the age of 84 Kanko-kai (Tokyo, Nichiren Shu year 2003 explaining to all Nichiren in 1993, we were able to translate and Shumuin,1981). The former how- Buddhists how the new slogan was publish the five major writings of our ever, is limited to the historical terms decided on and why it is necessary Founder in English and modern whereas the latter includes a lengthy for us all to spread the Founder’s Japanese printed on pages facing each theoretical section, which I some- gospel of “Rissho Ankoku” among other. Lamenting the passing away of times find it difficult to follow. people in the world especially the our leader, I felt quite sure that he was I once asked the late President young people. I thought it was a good such a great leader that his successors Oikawa to suggest to the Rissho Uni- idea to distribute this tract in English will not go against his wish. During versity to establish a translator’s desk all over the world. Then I encoun- the decade following the passing of Rev. Kyotsu Hori within the Nichiren Kyogaku tered a passage towards the end of our leader, NOPPA has been able to Professor David Griffith of the Eng- Kenkyu-jo (Center for the Study of the pamphlet exerting “all the people publish a few more English-modern lish Department of Aoyama Gakuin Nichiren Buddhism) so that transla- in Japan” to take the new step for- Japanese writings of Nichiren Shonin, University for further brushing up. tors can receive guidance from spe- ward. This disappointed me because and we are now translating the recent- Professor Griffith was from New cialists. It was at the time when the until then, I thought the Administra- ly published Nichiren Shonin Zenshu York and was studying at the Univer- University was rebuilding the main tion was talking to all the Nichiren (Complete Writings of Nichiren Sho- sity of Hawaii as a Korean War veter- campus at the Osaki section of Buddhists in the world not just to the nin) published by the Shunju-sha of an in the 1950’s. He was interested in Tokyo. The President told me that he people in Japan. The actual wording Tokyo in seven volumes. The authors Japanese culture and was willing to was told that there simply was no used is “zenkoku no minasan,” which of the modern Japanese versions of help us Japanese students with prob- room to put even a desk in the new cannot be translated as “all the peo- this series are all specialists of lems in English. Almost a generation building. This was about 15 years ple in the world” no matter how hard Nichiren Buddhism and the docu- later he became my English tutor ago, but even now I sometime recall one tries. It made me wonder ments included were scrutinized with again in Tokyo. He not only correct- this episode whenever I encounter a whether or not the current Nichiren the standard of modern bibliography. ed my English translations studiously stumbling block. Shu Administration is really serious We have so far been able to have the but also met me occasionally to about converting the entire world to University of Hawaii Press publish explain his corrections. His tutorial Current Translation Projects the “Wonderful Dharma” and distribute world wide the first two guidance lasted more than 10 years Both my wife and I retired from volumes, including four of the five until I retired to the suburbs of Hon- our teaching jobs almost at the same Internationalization major writings of Nichiren Shonin. olulu, Hawaii. I really appreciate his time and decided to move back to I have been fortunate to engage in Those interested please visit guidance which is one of the reasons Hawaii. We decided to live in a town translating and publishing Our www.uhpress.hawaii.edu. why I am still able to work on the called Mililani in the suburbs of Hon- Founder Nichiren Shonin’s writings project. olulu. Honolulu is my wife’s native in English as a member of the Eng- Obstacles to Surmount place and where I lived more than ten lish Translation Committee of the The first difficulty to produce a Dream That Did Not Come True years as a Buddhist missionary. Nichiren Shu Overseas Propagation readable English translation was that There is another obstacle that I Thanks to the revolutionary Promotion Association (NOPPA) for I am not a native English speaker. I am still struggling to overcome, improvements in communication in the last 20 years. When the first Pres- studied English in high school and namely the lack of specialized recent years, we are able to continue ident of the Nichiren Shu Overseas colleges in Japan, but unfortunately it knowledge of Nichiren Buddhism. I most of the work we were engaged in Propagation Promotion Association, was during the turbulent era of World am not from a priestly background, Japan as translator and proofreaders. the late Reverend Shingaku Oikawa, War II and immediately after. My and my Buddhist teacher was quite We do not have a 9:00 to 5:00 work offered me the job, I promptly English was simply incommunicable advanced in age when I was in col- schedule as such but are busy every- accepted it although I knew I had when I came to Hawaii as an assis- lege. Therefore, I somehow believed day working as a translator, typist, many shortcomings as a translator. tant minister of the Nichiren Mission I would not have a chance to become editor, compiler, proofreader, etc. Nevertheless, I accepted the offer of Hawaii. I felt so ashamed that I a resident minister of a Buddhist tem- Nobody imposes a deadline on us, knowing that I was not alone in still remember that I tried to say ple. In fact many Buddhist priests but we are hoping to finish publish- believing that the future of Nichiren something like “My tongue is tight” were school teachers in Japan, so I ing the remaining five volumes of the Shu overseas depended on the trans- one day. I had to repeat it many times majored in history instead of Nichiren Shonin Zenshu (Complete formation of Nichiren Buddhism until a Sunday School teacher point- Nichiren Buddhism. When I decided Writings of Nichiren Shonin) in five from an ethnic religion to a world ed out that the word “tongue” is pro- to translate the writings of Nichiren years. Buddhism, using English as the nounced with one syllable [tung] Shonin, there were so many words Besides translating and checking means of communication. Mean- instead of two [ton.gu]. Fortunately and phrases that did not make sense the writings assigned to myself, my while I was touched by the sincerity my wife, a third generation Japanese to me, a non-specialist. After asking wife and I check the translations done of the aging President, who, while American, helped me to smooth out many people for help and struggling by other translators to make sure that fighting a terminal illness, spent so my writing, before taking them to myself, I came to know that there are they are presentable and understand- able to the editor, a faculty member of Personal History of Rev. Kyotsu Hori, Ph.D. the University of Hawaii’s Religion Department (at this moment, Dr. Jay Place of Birth Ishikawa-ken, Japan Sakashita). When the editor’s correc- Education March 1949: Preparatory Course (Yoka), Rissho University, Tokyo, Japan. tions and comments arrive, we input March 1951: Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; B.A. in European History. them in the computer. These and oth- May 1960: Columbia University, New York, N.Y.; M.A. in U.S. History. er odd jobs keep us both busy and May 1967: Columbia University, New York, N.Y.; Ph.D. in Far Eastern History. happy every day. Happy because we know that the Work Experience book will be published soon carrying 1954-1958: Assistant Pastor, Nichiren Mission of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. the message of Nichiren Shonin and 1967-1968: Assistant Professor of History, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. spreading the seed of Buddhahood 1968-1971: Assistant Professor of Asian Languages and Cultures, University Center in Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. throughout the world. What more joy 1971-1980: Chief Priest, Nichiren Mission of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii; Bishop, Nichiren Shu Order in Hawaii. can any Nichiren Buddhist hope to 1980-1983: Associate Professor, Tokyo Rissho Junior College for Women, Tokyo, Japan. gain? 1983-1997: Professor, Tokyo Rissho Junior College for Women, Tokyo, Japan. (continued on page 2) Nichiren 138’ 03.10.7 2:19 PM ページ2 (2) Nichiren Shu News Then an instructor asked the audience a question about the comparative The Legend of Nichiren Shonin (5) superiority of the Lotus Sutra and the Great Sun Buddha Sutra.
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