by Masuo Nezu

These are personal reminiscences about the late founder Rev. Nikkyo Niwano from his former chief secretary, Masuo Nezu, now in retirement. During his years of service, the writer accompanied Rev. Niwano on dissemination tours, interreligious cooperation activities, and peace promotion work, both in Japan and overseas. This series recalls not only heartwarming episodes from the founder's everyday life, but also the spiritual insights derived from his words and deeds.

20

The Roots of a Long, Intimate Friendship--
Meetings with Mr. Zhao Puchu

Founder Niwano's first visit to China was in April 1974. Although normal diplomatic relations between Japan and China had been restored in 1972, there was as yet no agreement concerning direct airline flights. Therefore Rev. Niwano was unable to fly from Tokyo to Beijing. He flew first from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Hong Kong, and then from Hong Kong took a train to Guangzhou. From there, he flew to Beijing. Thus he did not arrive in Beijing until the third day after he had left Tokyo. It was 9:30 p.m. when he landed at the airport in Beijing.

There, Mr. Zhao Puchu, then president of the Buddhist Association of China, was awaiting his arrival. Out of this meeting grew the two men's long and intimate friendship.

At that time, the second assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) was in its preparatory stage, so the founder's main purpose in visiting China was to recruit Chinese participation in it. On his shoulders, accordingly, rested the heavy burden of the expectation of his international WCRP colleagues that he could accomplish that end.

The first meeting with Chinese religious leaders was held at the Guang-ji monastery, headquarters of the Buddhist Association of China, and was attended by Mr. Zhao as well as representatives of Buddhism, Islam, and both Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations of Christianity. People were seated in a large hall, their backs to the wall, on all four sides of the room, leaving the center open. Such an arrangement was quite new to Japanese eyes.

On April 17, 1974, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano was welcomed by members of the Buddhist Association of China, including Mr. Zhao Puchu (right), in Beijing on the occasion of his first visit to China.

Mr. Zhao opened the meeting with words of welcome. Rev. Niwano next introduced Rissho Kosei-kai and its major activities, explaining the purpose of his visit. Then representatives of each of the Chinese religions explained their religious activities in detail to him.

After the meeting, one of the participants said, "Only thanks to Rev. Niwano's visit have we Chinese religionists had the good opportunity to be able to come together and talk."

They said there never had been any such discussions before of transcending the differences in faith found among the people of China. For this unexpected by-product of the meeting, words of appreciation were expressed to Rev. Niwano by several of the Chinese participants. As for membership or participation in the WCRP, however, the domestic situation in China was not yet ripe for it, and no commitment could be obtained from the Chinese in that regard.

Five years later, however, a little before the Third Assembly of the WCRP convened at Princeton, N.J., Rev. Niwano again visited China. This was during the hot summer, but this time he was able to fly directly to Beijing. He focused his attention exclusively on one aim--full Chinese participation in the WCRP--and although he stayed in Beijing for only one day, his enthusiasm for making Chinese participation possible was clear, and was appreciated by the Chinese. The national sentiment about engaging in external affairs had changed in those five years, so Chinese participation was finally realized. With great appreciation for Rev. Niwano's endeavors, Mr. Zhao said, "This is the first time we have been able to attend this kind of world assembly. During the conference we shall need to rely on your kind advice and guidance."

Mass media throughout the world reported the Chinese involvement. One report noted, "Through the participation of China, home to one-fourth of the world's population, the WCRP has indeed become a world conference in reality as well as in name." Since then, religious people in China have earnestly undertaken the work of the WCRP.