Authentic Buddha's Relics in Japan for the First Time (Excerpts from the brochure titled, "Kaun-o-seidainisuru Senzo-kuyo (Venerating Ancestors to Bring Great Family Fortunes)")
The history clearly states that an authentic Buddha’s relic has been received in Japan once before. In June 1900, the king of Siam at the time bestowed it to the Japanese Buddhist community. This authentic Buddha’s relic was excavated by an English man, Peppe in Lumbini where Shakyamuni Buddha was born.
In addition to the Buddha relics, a number of historical pieces were discovered. The academic community at that time recognized that these were in fact valuable Shakyamuni Buddha’s relics.
(snip)
After receiving this reply, Ambassador Inagaki communicated this message to the Buddhist leaders of Japan. The entire Buddhist community in Japan welcomed the news.
(snip)
The King gently presented the Buddha’s relic to them, safely arriving in Kyoto on July 19. It was enshrined at Otaniha Honganji Kenshin Daishido. The following describes what occurred at that time.
("Stories of Busshari" published on October 20, 1900, by Kogyoshoin in Kyoto.)
(snip)
However, while the historical cataclysms such as the Russo-Japanese War erupting four years after this, followed by the era of World War I profiteers, the great economic depression in the early Showa era due to the backlash, the Manchurian Incident, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Pacific War and the defeat taking place, people’s religious faith waned, and at the same time the traditional knowledge was disappearing. Negligence and idleness on the part of Buddhist priests is a contributing factor. People have forgotten the most fundamental concept for Buddhists: the high importance of Busshari or the Buddha’s relic. (Presently this Shinsei Busshari is enshrined at the Kakuozan-Nittaiji Temple.)
In offering Busshari to Japan, the king of Siam calls Busshari, "Shakyamuni Buddha’s Remains."
For Buddhists, Shinsei Busshari or the authentic Buddha’s relic means it derives from Shakyamuni Buddha himself. It transcends religious faith or denomination and applies to Buddhism overall. You can understand this if you read the sutras. There you will find numerous descriptions of the miracles caused by Busshari as the living Buddha.
(snip)
