MVBT Girl Scouts
This last March was Girl Scout Month, and the Girl Scouts were in charge of the Sunday services. Our Girl Scouts served as chairpersons and carried out their roles with responsibility and integrity. This has become a tradition at our Temple, and it always makes us happy to see them working together to serve in the Sunday Services and to see how much they have grown.
First Priest in Japan
This month, I would like to share the story of a girl in Japanese Buddhist history who distinguished herself with her youthful energy.
When we look back on the spread of Buddhism in Japan, the first person we think of is Prince Shotoku. He is well known as one of the most important figures who played a very important part in Japanese Buddhist history.
He adopted Buddhism in the Sixth Century, when it was first introduced to Japan by Korean Buddhist monks. Prince Shotoku helped make Buddhism the state religion by establishing a constitution based on Buddhist ideas. He tried to build the foundation of the new country by constructing many major Buddhist temples with the intention of creating a harmonious society grounded in the Buddha’s teachings.
Throughout his life, our founder Shinran sincerely respected Prince Shotoku as the Father of Japanese Buddhism or the manifestation of Kannon (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara). You can even see his image on the scroll hanging at the far right of the Main Altar.
Do you know who became the first Buddhist priest in Japan? It wasn’t Prince Shotoku. In fact, he never entered the priesthood. It is said that the first Japanese who entered the priesthood in Japan was actually a girl named Zenshin-ni. It was in the year 584. Surprisingly, Zenshin-ni was only 11 years old when she was ordained by a Korean Buddhist monk. In other words, in the long history of Japanese Buddhism, the first person who became a Buddhist priest was a young girl.
Zenshin-ni’s given name was Shima, and she lived around the same time as Prince Shotoku, but there is no record that proves they ever met.
In those days in Japan, images of the Buddha and Buddhist scriptures were being brought from China and Korea – but there were no Buddhist priests yet in Japan. In the midst of this, one powerful clan, the Soga clan, actively supported the spread of Buddhism. Zenshin-ni was born into a family that had close ties to that clan that promoted Buddhism. Because of this, the Soga clan arranged for young Zenshin-ni to be ordained. After her, two other girls were also ordained with their support.
Who Defended Buddhism in Japan?
In those days, a Buddhist priest was seen as somewhat similar to a Shinto maiden who served at shrines. That’s why it’s not surprising that the Soga clan chose to ordain girls in that period of society. This marked the very important moment when the Three Treasures – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – were first introduced in Japan.
However, not everyone openly welcomed Buddhism. Another powerful group, the Mononobe clan, tried to protect Shinto, Japan’s indigenous belief. They strongly opposed foreign teachings and didn’t allow anyone to embrace Buddhism. In their resistance, they burned temples, destroyed Buddha images, and set fire to many scriptures. Tragically, Zenshin-ni and the other two ordained girls were captured and tortured.
To defend Buddhism, the Soga clan eventually clashed with the Mononobe clan. After a long struggle, the Soga clan emerged victorious, and with their support, Prince Shotoku was able to lay the foundation for a new nation guided by Buddhist principles.
Women Spread Buddhism in Japan
Zenshin-ni endured all these hardships with a steadfast spirit. At the age of 15, she traveled to Korea to further deepen her study and practice of the Buddhist path. After returning to Japan, she built temples and dedicated her life to protecting and spreading the Buddha’s teachings. Unfortunately, today her contributions are not widely recognized, but I believe that she stands as one of the first important figures who helped Buddhism take root in Japan. And, because of this story, you are amazed that one young girl helped bring about the establishment of the Three Treasures in Japanese Buddhism.
Again, looking at Buddhist history, we are made aware that there have been countless remarkable women like Zenshin-ni, who devoted their lives to the flourishing of Buddhism. Even in the history of Jodo Shinshu, we see Eshin-ni, who supported Shinran as his wife; Kakushin-ni, who helped lay the foundation of the Hongwanji; and laywoman Takeko Kujo, who established the Buddhist Women’s Association to promote women’s independence. Along with them, many other women have sincerely embraced the Nembutsu teaching and have supported Hongwanji Temples throughout the world to this day.
Women at MVBT
Our Temple is also supported by the devoted efforts of our female Temple president, members of the Women’s Association, Dharma School teachers, and many other women of our Sangha and Dharma friends. Through their sincere dedication and hard work, the activities of our Temple continue to flourish. Reflecting on this, we are once again reminded of the precious role that women play in ensuring that the Buddha Dharma continues to be shared and passed down to others here in the U.S.
Even today, just as Buddhism has been supported by countless women throughout history, it is truly heartening to see many women serving as leaders alongside men in our Temple and in the wider community. We sincerely hope that through their meaningful activities, our Girl Scouts will also cultivate courage, confidence and the ability to take action and in doing so, develop the strength to help build a better society for everyone.
And under the guidance of the Nembutsu teaching, may we continue working together to build a world in which all women can feel proud of their qualities and abilities, embrace leadership without hesitation, and fully exercise their strengths in contributing to the well-being of their communities and the world.
In Gassho,
Rev. Yushi Mukojima