UG05ISH-T - Revision history

James at 10:36, 5 October 2026

2026-10-05T10:36:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:36, 5 October 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, ~~postcard~~ to Itō Shōshin}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, letter to Itō Shōshin}}

	~~Postcard~~ sent by [[Uchiyama Gudo\|Uchiyama Gudō]] to Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信), 2 November 1905. ([[UG05ISH\|Original Japanese here]].)		Letter sent by [[Uchiyama Gudo\|Uchiyama Gudō]] to Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信, early November 1905. ([[UG05ISH\|Original Japanese here]].)

	<hr>		<hr>

	:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信)<br>		:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信<br>
	:'''Date:''' ~~Written~~ November 2, Meiji 38 ~~[1905]~~<br>		:'''Date:''' Early November 1905 (Meiji 38)<br>

	I have respectfully read your announcement of withdrawal from the sect.<ref>''Dasshū-gō'' 脱宗号, literally an “announcement of withdrawal from the sect,” refers to Itō Shōshin's public break with institutional Shin Buddhism.</ref> Anyone who, in the present age, sincerely seeks to work for the Way cannot endure the false Dharma of the head temple issuing from its den of demons.<ref>Uchiyama uses the strongly polemical expressions ''gihō'' 偽法 (“false Dharma”) and ''makutsu'' 魔窟 (“den of demons”).</ref>		I have respectfully read your announcement of withdrawal from the sect.<ref>''Dasshū-gō'' 脱宗号, literally an “announcement of withdrawal from the sect,” refers to Itō Shōshin's public break with institutional Shin Buddhism.</ref> Anyone who, in the present age, sincerely seeks to work for the Way cannot endure the false Dharma of the head temple issuing from its den of demons.<ref>Uchiyama uses the strongly polemical expressions ''gihō'' 偽法 (“false Dharma”) and ''makutsu'' 魔窟 (“den of demons”).</ref>

	When I visited your home the other day, I myself thought of telling you what was on my mind. But on reconsidering the matter, I realized that this place where, through karmic circumstances, I ~~have had the good fortune to become~~ resident priest has been under the faith of the Sōtō school for two or three hundred years, and yet is populated by unfortunate people who know neither the character of our High Patriarch Dōgen nor even his name. If I were to abandon them and leave, there would be no one to plant the Buddha-seed in this place for ~~ten million~~ kalpas.<ref>''Busshu'' 仏種, the “Buddha-seed,” is the potential or basis for attaining awakening. Uchiyama thus presents his decision to remain within the Sōtō institution as a Buddhist vocation rather than an endorsement of its institutional leadership.</ref> Therefore, until the head temple dismisses me from my position as resident priest, I am resolved to fight with all my might, taking the truth of selflessness as my sword.<ref>''Muga no shinri'' 無我の真理, “the truth of selflessness.” The expression draws on the Buddhist doctrine of no-self (''muga'' 無我) while also resonating with Itō's Selfless Love (''Muga no Ai'' 無我の愛) movement.</ref> At present, however, I hear the songs of Chu on every side, and I do not know when the castle will fall.<ref>''Shimen soka'' 四面楚歌 (“songs of Chu on all sides”) alludes to the final defeat of Xiang Yu 項羽, whose surrounded troops heard songs from their homeland of Chu being sung from the enemy camp and realized that their position was hopeless. The expression conventionally signifies being surrounded by enemies or allies having deserted one's cause. Uchiyama extends the military metaphor with ''rakujō'' 落城, “the fall of the castle.”</ref> I will leave that to the natural course of events.		When I visited your home the other day, I myself thought of telling you what was on my mind. But on reconsidering the matter, I realized that this place where, through karmic circumstances, I became resident priest has been under the faith of the Sōtō school for two or three hundred years, and yet is populated by unfortunate people who know neither the character of our High Patriarch Dōgen nor even his name. If I were to abandon them and leave, there would be no one to plant the Buddha-seed in this place for countless kalpas.<ref>''Busshu'' 仏種, the “Buddha-seed,” is the potential or basis for attaining awakening. Uchiyama thus presents his decision to remain within the Sōtō institution as a Buddhist vocation rather than an endorsement of its institutional leadership.</ref> Therefore, until the head temple dismisses me from my position as resident priest, I am resolved to fight with all my might, taking the truth of selflessness as my sword.<ref>''Muga no shinri'' 無我の真理, “the truth of selflessness.” The expression draws on the Buddhist doctrine of no-self (''muga'' 無我) while also resonating with Itō's Selfless Love (''Muga no Ai'' 無我の愛) movement.</ref> At present, however, I hear the songs of Chu on every side, and I do not know when the castle will fall.<ref>''Shimen soka'' 四面楚歌 (“songs of Chu on all sides”) alludes to the final defeat of Xiang Yu 項羽, whose surrounded troops heard songs from their homeland of Chu being sung from the enemy camp and realized that their position was hopeless. The expression conventionally signifies being surrounded by enemies or allies having deserted one's cause. Uchiyama extends the military metaphor with ''rakujō'' 落城, “the fall of the castle.”</ref> I will leave that to the natural course of events.

	For my part, I would somehow like to visit Dainichidō about once a month, but my own small strength is defeated by the great circumstances surrounding me, and I am unable to fulfill that wish. I ask for your understanding. And to my fellow companions: my own place may not have a signboard proclaiming “Selfless Love,” but in reality that is surely what it is. So please come without hesitation, combining self-cultivation with propagation of the Way.<ref>Uchiyama writes ''shūyō to dendō'' 修養と伝道. ''Shūyō'' denotes moral or spiritual self-cultivation, while ''dendō'' literally means transmitting or propagating the Way or teaching.</ref>		For my part, I would somehow like to visit Dainichidō about once a month, but my own small strength is defeated by the great circumstances surrounding me, and I am unable to fulfill that wish. I ask for your understanding. And to my fellow companions: my own place may not have a signboard proclaiming “Selfless Love,” but in reality that is surely what it is. So please come without hesitation, combining self-cultivation with propagation of the Way.<ref>Uchiyama writes ''shūyō to dendō'' 修養と伝道. ''Shūyō'' denotes moral or spiritual self-cultivation, while ''dendō'' literally means transmitting or propagating the Way or teaching.</ref>
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	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	<references />		<references />

			== Source Note ==

			Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童, letter to Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信, early November 1905. Reproduced in Kashiwagi Ryūhō 柏木隆法, ''Taigyaku jiken to Uchiyama Gudō'' 大逆事件と内山愚童 [The High Treason Incident and Uchiyama Gudō] (Tokyo: JCA Shuppan, 1979), 230. Kashiwagi dates the letter to early November 1905 (明治三十八年十一月初旬) and identifies the reproduced source as held by Fuchigami Tomi 淵上登美.

			== How to Cite this Text ==
			<!-- AUTHORSHIP CHANGE LOG
			First version, 2026. Translation: Shields, James Mark.-->
			Uchiyama Gudō (1905). "Letter to Itō Shōshin." Translated and annotated by James Mark Shields. ''The Radical Buddhism Project''. Version of {{#time: j F Y \| {{REVISIONYEAR}}-{{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY}} }}. <nowiki>http://radicalbuddhism.net/wiki/UG05ISH-T</nowiki>.

	[[category:Uchiyama Gudo]]		[[category:Uchiyama Gudo]]
	[[category:Translations from Japanese]]		[[category:Translations from Japanese]]

James at 08:22, 29 September 2026

2026-09-29T08:22:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:22, 29 September 2026
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	~~{{Translation Review}}~~
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}

James at 08:21, 29 September 2026

2026-09-29T08:21:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:21, 29 September 2026
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			{{Translation Review}}
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}

	Postcard sent by [[Uchiyama Gudo\|Uchiyama Gudō]] to Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信), 2 November 1905.		Postcard sent by [[Uchiyama Gudo\|Uchiyama Gudō]] to Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信), 2 November 1905. ([[UG05ISH\|Original Japanese here]].)

	<hr>		<hr>

	:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信<br>		:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信)<br>
	:'''Date:''' Written November 2, Meiji 38 [1905]<br>		:'''Date:''' Written November 2, Meiji 38 [1905]<br>
	~~:'''From:''' Rinsenji, Ōhiradai, Hakone 箱根大平台林泉寺<br>~~

	I have ~~just~~ read your ~~letter~~, and ~~I am truly overcome with emotion~~.		I have respectfully read your announcement of withdrawal from the sect.<ref>''Dasshū-gō'' 脱宗号, literally an “announcement of withdrawal from the sect,” refers to Itō Shōshin's public break with institutional Shin Buddhism.</ref> Anyone who, in the present age, sincerely seeks to work for the Way cannot endure the false Dharma of the head temple issuing from its den of demons.<ref>Uchiyama uses the strongly polemical expressions ''gihō'' 偽法 (“false Dharma”) and ''makutsu'' 魔窟 (“den of demons”).</ref>

	I ~~believe~~ that the ~~doctrine~~ of the ~~present-day sect~~ is ~~a false Dharma~~,<ref>''~~Gihō~~'' ~~偽法: literally~~, a ~~false or spurious Dharma or teaching~~.</ref> ~~and that~~ the head temple ~~is a den~~ of ~~demons~~.<ref>''~~Makutsu~~'' ~~魔窟: literally~~, ~~a “demon cave” or “demon~~'s ~~lair~~.~~” Uchiyama is referring polemically to~~ the ~~institutional leadership~~ of the ~~Sōtō school~~.</ref> ~~Yet~~ the ~~people~~ of ~~the place where~~, ~~through fortunate circumstances, I now serve as resident priest have been followers~~ of the ~~Sōtō sect for three hundred years~~. ~~Pitifully~~, ~~however, not only do they know nothing~~ of the ~~character~~ of ~~our patriarch, Zen Master Dōgen—they do not even know his name~~.		When I visited your home the other day, I myself thought of telling you what was on my mind. But on reconsidering the matter, I realized that this place where, through karmic circumstances, I have had the good fortune to become resident priest has been under the faith of the Sōtō school for two or three hundred years, and yet is populated by unfortunate people who know neither the character of our High Patriarch Dōgen nor even his name. If I were to abandon them and leave, there would be no one to plant the Buddha-seed in this place for ten million kalpas.<ref>''Busshu'' 仏種, the “Buddha-seed,” is the potential or basis for attaining awakening. Uchiyama thus presents his decision to remain within the Sōtō institution as a Buddhist vocation rather than an endorsement of its institutional leadership.</ref> Therefore, until the head temple dismisses me from my position as resident priest, I am resolved to fight with all my might, taking the truth of selflessness as my sword.<ref>''Muga no shinri'' 無我の真理, “the truth of selflessness.” The expression draws on the Buddhist doctrine of no-self (''muga'' 無我) while also resonating with Itō's Selfless Love (''Muga no Ai'' 無我の愛) movement.</ref> At present, however, I hear the songs of Chu on every side, and I do not know when the castle will fall.<ref>''Shimen soka'' 四面楚歌 (“songs of Chu on all sides”) alludes to the final defeat of Xiang Yu 項羽, whose surrounded troops heard songs from their homeland of Chu being sung from the enemy camp and realized that their position was hopeless. The expression conventionally signifies being surrounded by enemies or allies having deserted one's cause. Uchiyama extends the military metaphor with ''rakujō'' 落城, “the fall of the castle.”</ref> I will leave that to the natural course of events.

	If I ~~were~~ to ~~abandon them~~, ~~it would be impossible for thousands upon thousands of kalpas to plant~~ the ~~Buddha-seed<ref>''Busshu'' 仏種~~, ~~the “Buddha-seed”: the potential or basis~~ for ~~awakening~~. ~~Uchiyama's use of the expression is significant here because he presents remaining at Rinsenji~~ not ~~as accommodation with the Sōtō establishment~~, but ~~as a Buddhist vocation directed toward his own parishioners.</ref>~~ in ~~this place~~. ~~Therefore~~, ~~until the authorities~~ of the ~~sect remove me from my position as resident priest, I am resolved to fight with all my strength, taking the truth of selflessness~~<ref>''~~Muga no shinri~~'' ~~無我の真理~~. ''~~Muga~~'' ~~無我 (“no~~-~~self” or “selflessness”) here also evokes Itō Shōshin~~'~~s Selfless Love (~~''~~Muga no Ai~~'~~' 無我の愛) movement~~.</ref> ~~as my sword.~~		For my part, I would somehow like to visit Dainichidō about once a month, but my own small strength is defeated by the great circumstances surrounding me, and I am unable to fulfill that wish. I ask for your understanding. And to my fellow companions: my own place may not have a signboard proclaiming “Selfless Love,” but in reality that is surely what it is. So please come without hesitation, combining self-cultivation with propagation of the Way.<ref>Uchiyama writes ''shūyō to dendō'' 修養と伝道. ''Shūyō'' denotes moral or spiritual self-cultivation, while ''dendō'' literally means transmitting or propagating the Way or teaching.</ref>

	~~My temple may not display~~ the ~~signboard~~ of ~~“Selfless Love~~,~~” but~~ in ~~substance it certainly is~~ Selfless Love. ~~So please do not hesitate to visit~~, ~~whether for self-cultivation or for propagation~~ of the ~~teaching~~.		Even the bleakness of bachelor life, for me, dwelling in Selfless Love, has nature's broad and long tongue as its companion, and I feel myself advancing day by day into a wondrous realm.<ref>''Kōchōzetsu'' 広長舌, literally “broad and long tongue,” is one of the traditional physical marks of a Buddha and an emblem of truthful proclamation. Uchiyama's expression “nature's broad and long tongue” (''shizen no kōchōzetsu'' 自然の広長舌) poetically casts nature itself as proclaiming the Dharma. The original reads 伴として (“as [my] companion”). ''Myōkyō'' 妙境 denotes a “wondrous” or “marvelous realm/state.”</ref>

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

James at 21:40, 28 September 2026

2026-09-28T21:40:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 28 September 2026
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	~~{{Translation Review}}~~
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}

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	<hr>		<hr>

	:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信)<br>		:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信<br>
	:'''Date:''' Written November 2, Meiji 38 [1905]<br>		:'''Date:''' Written November 2, Meiji 38 [1905]<br>
	:'''From:''' Rinsenji, Ōhiradai, Hakone (箱根大平台林泉寺)<br>		:'''From:''' Rinsenji, Ōhiradai, Hakone 箱根大平台林泉寺<br>

	I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion.		I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion.

James at 21:39, 28 September 2026

2026-09-28T21:39:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, 28 September 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:~~Letter~~ to Itō Shōshin ~~(1905)~~}}		{{Translation Review}}
			{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uchiyama Gudō, postcard to Itō Shōshin}}

	~~'''English translation for the Radical Buddhism Project~~.~~'''~~		Postcard sent by [[Uchiyama Gudo\|Uchiyama Gudō]] to Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信), 2 November 1905.

	~~== Letter to Itō Shōshin ==~~		<hr>

	'''~~Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童~~'''		:'''To:''' Itō Shōshin (伊藤証信)<br>
	2 ~~November~~ 1905		:'''Date:''' Written November 2, Meiji 38 [1905]<br>
			:'''From:''' Rinsenji, Ōhiradai, Hakone (箱根大平台林泉寺)<br>

	I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion.		I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion.
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	My temple may not display the signboard of “Selfless Love,” but in substance it certainly is Selfless Love. So please do not hesitate to visit, whether for self-cultivation or for propagation of the teaching.		My temple may not display the signboard of “Selfless Love,” but in substance it certainly is Selfless Love. So please do not hesitate to visit, whether for self-cultivation or for propagation of the teaching.

	~~== Source Note ==~~

	This postcard from Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童 to Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信 is dated 2 November 1905. It was written shortly after Itō's break with institutional Shin Buddhism and his establishment of the Selfless Love (''Muga no Ai'' 無我の愛) movement. Uchiyama expresses strong sympathy with Itō's critique of established Buddhism but explains why he has chosen a different course: rather than abandon his position as resident priest of Rinsenji 林泉寺, he intends to remain within the Sōtō institution in order to “plant the Buddha-seed” among his parishioners. The letter is especially significant for showing that Uchiyama's increasingly radical criticism of institutional Buddhism did not at this point entail a rejection of Buddhist vocation.

	The Japanese text is reproduced in Kashiwagi Ryūhō 柏木隆法, ''Taigyaku jiken to Uchiyama Gudō'' 大逆事件と内山愚童 [The High Treason Incident and Uchiyama Gudō] (Tokyo: JCA Shuppan, 1979), 230. Kashiwagi's text derives from documentary materials associated with Chiba Kōdō 千葉広道's history of the Selfless Love movement. Fabio Rambelli also translates substantial portions of the letter in ''Zen Anarchism: The Egalitarian Dharma of Uchiyama Gudō'' (2013), where he identifies it as having appeared in ''Muga no ai'' 無我の愛, no. 13 (10 December 1905).<ref>Because Kashiwagi and Rambelli describe the textual provenance differently, the relationship between Kashiwagi's copy and the reported publication in ''Muga no ai'' requires further verification.</ref>

	~~== Translation Note ==~~

	Translation by James Mark Shields for the Radical Buddhism Project, from the Japanese text reproduced by Kashiwagi Ryūhō. The translation aims to preserve Uchiyama's Buddhist terminology and the polemical force of the original. Rambelli's published translation of portions of the letter was consulted for comparison.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	<references />		<references />

			[[category:Uchiyama Gudo]]
			[[category:Translations from Japanese]]

James: Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Letter to Itō Shōshin (1905)}} '''English translation for the Radical Buddhism Project.''' == Letter to Itō Shōshin == '''Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童''' 2 November 1905 I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion. I believe that the doctrine of the present-day sect is a false Dharma,''Gihō'' 偽法: literally, a false or spurious Dharma or teaching. and that the head temple is a den of demons.''Makutsu''..."

2026-09-28T21:36:10Z

Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Letter to Itō Shōshin (1905)}} '''English translation for the Radical Buddhism Project.''' == Letter to Itō Shōshin == '''Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童''' 2 November 1905 I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion. I believe that the doctrine of the present-day sect is a false Dharma,<ref>''Gihō'' 偽法: literally, a false or spurious Dharma or teaching.</ref> and that the head temple is a den of demons.<ref>''Makutsu''..."

New page

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Letter to Itō Shōshin (1905)}}

'''English translation for the Radical Buddhism Project.'''

== Letter to Itō Shōshin ==

'''Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童'''
2 November 1905

I have just read your letter, and I am truly overcome with emotion.

I believe that the doctrine of the present-day sect is a false Dharma,<ref>''Gihō'' 偽法: literally, a false or spurious Dharma or teaching.</ref> and that the head temple is a den of demons.<ref>''Makutsu'' 魔窟: literally, a “demon cave” or “demon's lair.” Uchiyama is referring polemically to the institutional leadership of the Sōtō school.</ref> Yet the people of the place where, through fortunate circumstances, I now serve as resident priest have been followers of the Sōtō sect for three hundred years. Pitifully, however, not only do they know nothing of the character of our patriarch, Zen Master Dōgen—they do not even know his name.

If I were to abandon them, it would be impossible for thousands upon thousands of kalpas to plant the Buddha-seed<ref>''Busshu'' 仏種, the “Buddha-seed”: the potential or basis for awakening. Uchiyama's use of the expression is significant here because he presents remaining at Rinsenji not as accommodation with the Sōtō establishment, but as a Buddhist vocation directed toward his own parishioners.</ref> in this place. Therefore, until the authorities of the sect remove me from my position as resident priest, I am resolved to fight with all my strength, taking the truth of selflessness<ref>''Muga no shinri'' 無我の真理. ''Muga'' 無我 (“no-self” or “selflessness”) here also evokes Itō Shōshin's Selfless Love (''Muga no Ai'' 無我の愛) movement.</ref> as my sword.

My temple may not display the signboard of “Selfless Love,” but in substance it certainly is Selfless Love. So please do not hesitate to visit, whether for self-cultivation or for propagation of the teaching.

== Source Note ==

This postcard from Uchiyama Gudō 内山愚童 to Itō Shōshin 伊藤証信 is dated 2 November 1905. It was written shortly after Itō's break with institutional Shin Buddhism and his establishment of the Selfless Love (''Muga no Ai'' 無我の愛) movement. Uchiyama expresses strong sympathy with Itō's critique of established Buddhism but explains why he has chosen a different course: rather than abandon his position as resident priest of Rinsenji 林泉寺, he intends to remain within the Sōtō institution in order to “plant the Buddha-seed” among his parishioners. The letter is especially significant for showing that Uchiyama's increasingly radical criticism of institutional Buddhism did not at this point entail a rejection of Buddhist vocation.

The Japanese text is reproduced in Kashiwagi Ryūhō 柏木隆法, ''Taigyaku jiken to Uchiyama Gudō'' 大逆事件と内山愚童 [The High Treason Incident and Uchiyama Gudō] (Tokyo: JCA Shuppan, 1979), 230. Kashiwagi's text derives from documentary materials associated with Chiba Kōdō 千葉広道's history of the Selfless Love movement. Fabio Rambelli also translates substantial portions of the letter in ''Zen Anarchism: The Egalitarian Dharma of Uchiyama Gudō'' (2013), where he identifies it as having appeared in ''Muga no ai'' 無我の愛, no. 13 (10 December 1905).<ref>Because Kashiwagi and Rambelli describe the textual provenance differently, the relationship between Kashiwagi's copy and the reported publication in ''Muga no ai'' requires further verification.</ref>

== Translation Note ==

Translation by James Mark Shields for the Radical Buddhism Project, from the Japanese text reproduced by Kashiwagi Ryūhō. The translation aims to preserve Uchiyama's Buddhist terminology and the polemical force of the original. Rambelli's published translation of portions of the letter was consulted for comparison.

== Notes ==
<references />