BACKGROUND:

"On Itai Doshin" was given to Takahashi Nyudo, the uncle of Nikko Shonin. Nikko Shonin was Nichiren Daishonin's closest disciple and immediate successor, and it was through him that Takahashi became the Daishonin's follower. Since he was close to Nanjo Tokimitsu, a retainer of the Hojo clan, and the believers of Atsuhara, his residence was used as a headquarters when the persecutions occurred at Atsuhara in the late 1270's.

The manuscript is dated August 6 but the year is not indicated. It is thought, however, to have been written sometime between 1275 and 1280. The passage, "you demonstrated remarkable faith during the recent incident at Atsuhara," hints at the date. The persecution started in 1275, some time after the first Mongol invasion, and lasted until 1280. The second Mongol invasion occurred in May 1281.

"On Itai Doshin" stresses the importance of unity. The Daishonin's believers were few, a seemingly easy prey to rival religious sects attempting to impede their growth. The Daishonin encouraged his followers to intensify their faith and to develop a unity which no outside force could disrupt. He cited a famous example from Chinese history, where a numerically inferior but staunchly united force emerged victorious over a huge army weakened by disunity.

In July 1260 the Daishonin finished the "Rissho Ankoku Ron," predicting foreign invasion if the nation continued to slander true Buddhism, and all of the Japanese leaders of the time knew about that document and its warning. When the Daishonin wrote "On Itai Doshin," he was certain that a second Mongol invasion was imminent and knew that the ruling class would be painfully aware that his prediction of fourteen years earlier was coming true.
 

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PODACI O GOŠOU: 

"O itai došinu" beše dato Takahašiju Njudou, ujaku [ili stricu] Nikko Šonina. Nikko Šonin beše najbliži učenik Ničirena Dajšonina i njegov neposredni nastavljač, i preko njega je Takahaši postao Dajšoninov sledbenik. Pošto je bio blizak sa Nanđo Tokimitsuom, najamnikom Hođo klana, i vernicima Atsuhare, njegovo prebivalište beše korišćeno kao štab u vreme kada su se zbila proganjanja u Atsuhari u kasnim sedamdesetim trinaestog veka. 

Rukopis je datiran osmog avgusta, ali godina nije naznačena. Misli se, međutim, da je pisan negde između 1275. i 1280. Odeljak "iskazao si osobitu veru tokom skorašnjeg incidenta u Atsuhari" nagoveštava ovaj datum. Proganjanje je počelo 1275. godine, nešto posle prve najezde Mongola, i trajalo do 1280. Druga najezda Mongola zbila se u maju 1281. 

"O itai došinu" naglašava važnost jedinstva. Dajšoninovih vernika je bilo nekolicina, naizgled lak plen za rivalske religiozne sekte koje su nastojale da ometu njihov rast. Dajšonin je okuražio svoje sledbenike da pojačaju svoju veru i da razviju takvo jedinstvo koje nijedna spoljna sila ne bi mogla raskinuti. Naveo je čuveni primer iz kineske istorije kada je jedna brojčano inferiornija ali postojano ujedinjena sila izvojevala pobedu nad ogromnom vojskom oslabljenom razjedinjenošću. 

Jula 1260. Dajšonin je završio "Rišo ankoku ron", predviđajući najezdu stranaca ako narod nastavi da kleveta istinski budizam, i svim japanskim vođama tog vremena bio je poznat taj dokument i njegovo upozorenje. Kada je Dajšonin pisao "O itai došinu", bio je siguran da je druga najezda Mongola bila bliska i znao je da bi vladajuća klasa bila bolno svesna toga da se njegovo predviđanje od pre četrnaest godina ostvarilo. 
 

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