Rennyo (1415-1499) was a descendant of Shinran and the eighth chief abbot (monshu) of the Hongwanji in Kyoto. In 1457, when he was 43, he became the chief abbot and continued his missionary activity in the Omi region. He started a unique way of transmitting the Dharma through the use of letters, which were widely read among the followers and contributed enormously to the dissemination

One-Page Testament | Hōnen Shonin (Dictated 1212 C.E.) "The method of final salvation that I have propounded is neither a sort of meditation, such as has been practiced by many scholars in China and Japan, nor is it a repetition of the Buddha's name by those who have studied and understood the deep meaning of it. It is nothing but the mere repetition of the

Nichiren (16 February 1222– 13 October 1282) was a Japanese Buddhist priest of the Kamakura period (1185–1333), who developed the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, a branch school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Nichiren declared that the Lotus Sūtra alone contains the highest truth of Buddhist teachings suited for the Third Age of Buddhism. He advocated the repeated recitation of its title, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō

Nichiren | Teachings. Nichiren's teachings developed over the course of his career and their evolution can be seen through the study of his writings as well as in the annotations he made in his personal copy of the Lotus Sūtra. Nichiren summarized the key ideas of his teachings in 1 paragraph: Buddhahood is eternal; all people can and should manifest it in their lives;

Saichō (September 15, 767 – June 26, 822) was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school of Buddhism based on the Chinese Tiantai school he was exposed to during his trip to Tang China beginning in 804. He founded the temple and headquarters of Tendai at Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei near Kyoto. He is also said to have been the first to bring tea to Japan.

Ennin (793 -864), better known in Japan by his posthumous name, Jikaku Daishi, was a priest of the Tendai school of Buddhism in Japan, and its 3rd Zasu ("Head of the Tendai Order"). Ennin was instrumental in expanding the Tendai Order's influence, and bringing back crucial training and resources from China particularly Esoteric Buddhist training, and Pure Land teachings. Ennin was in China during Great

Kūya Kūya (903-972) was an itinerant Japanese priest who, along with Genshin and Jakushin , was among the first promoters of the practice of the Nembutsu ( chanting of Buddha Amitābha’s invocation ) amongst the common people in order to attain salvation and entry into the Pure Land of Amida . Kūya 's origins are unknown, but some sources claim that he may have been

Kūya (903-972) was a Buddhist wandering ascetic in Japan who was the pioneer of popularising the practice of the Nembutsu (chanting of Buddha Amitābha’s invocation) amongst the common people in order to attain salvation and entry into the Pure Land of Amida. Because of his perceived historical significance, scholars have frequently tried to reconstruct a historically accurate account of his life: Kūya Rui as most

Dōshō Dōshō (629–700 C.E.) was a Japanese monk credited with playing an influential role in the founding of Buddhism in Japan . In year 653 , he travelled to China , studying under the Buddhist monk Xuanzang , whose travels to India were immortalized in the book Journey to the West . His studies centred on Xuanzang 's Weishi , Chinese variant of Indian Yogācāra