The Original Form of a Kaō 花押 （Written Seal Mark） Produced by Nichiren:  A Signature and kaō of the Mandara-honzon （The Principal Image of Mandara） Written by Nichiren

Abstract

In 1931, Yamakawa Chiō 山川智応 （1879-1956） concluded that the original form of the kaō 花押 written by Nichiren 日蓮 was Siddham Sanskrit. About 90 years later, the idea of Yamakawa has become the established theory.

In this paper, I reject the preconceived notion that the kaō written by Nichiren is Siddham Sanskrit, and consider it from a different angle. That is, I look hard at the handwriting of the signature and the kaō of the Mandara-honzon written by Nichiren, and the kaō by Nichiren’s disciples and third generation followerss.

As a conclusion, I find that the kaō written by Nichiren may be based on a part of his name, namely the ren 蓮 of Nichiren, His method of writing may have been inherited by his disciples and third generation followers.