Shinkoku-O Gosho - Part 2

Shinkoku-O Gosho 
(Sovereigns of Our Divine Land)
Part 2

Introduction of Buddhism
(in Japan)

The thirtieth sovereign was Emperor Kimmei, eldest son of the twenty-seventh Emperor keitai. He reigned for 32 years, and on the thirteenth day of the tenth month during the thirteenth year of his reign (552 A.D.), King Song-myong of Paekche presented to the Japanese Emperor a gilt-copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which all the people of Japan today from the emperor down, regard as the Buddha of Infinite Life.

The Paekche king's letter of presentation stated:" I, a subject of Your highness, have heard that Buddhism is the best of all teachings and supreme of all ways in the world. In order for Your Highness to practice it, I respectfully present you this Buddhist statue, scriptures and monks through my emissary. I pray that Your Highness may have faith in Buddhism and practice it."

For thirty years or so during the three reigns of Emperors Kimmei, Bidatsu and Yomei, however, Buddhism was not believed in. Strange phenomena in the sky and natural calamities on earth similar to those today did occur during these years, though with less severity.

by Nichiren Daishonin
12th year of Bun'ei Era (1275)