On the majority of the Great Mandalas inscribed by Nichiren, there are two side entries on the bottom. The entry on the lower right side {facing} is usually a general dedication of sorts. This appears to be the same on most of them,, and states that this "Dai Mandara" had never before appeared in "Ichienbudai".
The exact words are:
"Butsumetsugo ni-sen ni-hyaku san-ju yo nen no aida ichienbudai no uchi mizou no daimandara nari"
Here are four translations:
"This Great Mandara was for the first time revealed in the Jambudvipa 2,220 and some years after the extinction of the Buddha." -- Ryuei
"The Mandala that has never been in Jambudvipa for the more than 2230 years after the Buddha's Extinction." -- Nichiren Shu
"Never in 2,230-some years since the passing of the Buddha has this great mandala appeared in the world." -- SGI
"This is the Great Unprecedented Mandala [Japanese: Mandara], never yet been in the whole of Jambudvipa for the more than 2220 years after the Buddha's extinction. [Japanese: Enbudai (Jambudvipa); the world in which we are living.]" -- Stephanie Maltz
This is seen on the Prayer Gohonzon issued to Nissho April 1277, the Taisekiji Great Mandala/Dai Gohonzon dated October 12 1279, the Great Mandala designated "Shutei Honzon" or the "Gohonzon Authorized by the Nichiren Sect" dated the of the 3rd month of 1280, the Great Mandala [For Transmitting the Dharma?] issued to Nissho in the 11th month of 1280, and dozens more.
Both SGI and Nichiren Shoshu claimed that this was only found on the so-called Daigohonzon of 1279. They stated that Ichien Budai meant"for all humanity." I trusted that was true for quite a few years. -- Robin Beck
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