One Horseload of Salt
IHAVE received the one horseload of salt and ginger that you sent. If there were as much gold as all the sand in Japan, would anyone hoard it away in the bottom of a chest as treasure? If there were as many rice cakes as would fill the entire land of Jambudvīpa, would anyone feel a debt of gratitude for rice?
It has rained every day since the first month this year. Particularly since the seventh month, it has poured down without stop. Not only do mountains surround this place, but the Hakiri River runs to the south, the Haya River to the north, the Fuji River to the east, and deep mountains lie to the west. Thus as the incessant rain and downpours continue hour after hour and day after day, mountains crumble and bury valleys, stones surge and block paths, rivers rage and boats are forced to abandon their crossings. Without wealthy men to bestow them，the five kinds of grain are scarce. Without merchants to offer goods, people never gather. In the seventh month, for instance, one shō of salt cost one hundred coins, and we also traded one to of wheat for five gō of salt. But now there is no salt anywhere. What can we use to buy it? Our miso has also run out. We are like a baby longing for its milk.
The sincerity you have shown in sending one horseload of this salt to such a place in these circumstances is firmer than the earth and broader than the sky. My words hardly do it justice. I will simply hand the matter over to the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha.
There is so much that I wish to say, but it is impossible to express in a letter.
With my deep respect,
Nichiren
The nineteenth day of the ninth month in the first year of Kōan [1278]
Reply to Ueno
Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter on the nineteenth day of the ninth month of 1278 to thank Nanjō Tokimitsu, who had sent a horseload of salt and some ginger to his dwelling in Minobu. The Daishonin describes the heavy rains that have poured down month after month and cut off paths and river crossings, the only means of access to Minobu. Thus when the supply of salt ran out, there was none to be had anywhere. Delighted at the arrival of the horseload of salt at such a time, the Daishonin praises Tokimitsu for the strength of sincerity demonstrated by his offering.