Genshin (942–1017), also known by the title Eshin Sōzu, was a Japanese Buddhist priest of the Tendai sect and patriarch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. He was among the first promoters of the Nembutsu chanting in Japan in 10-11th centuries. Genshin was a Tendai teacher, but considered one of the forerunners of the later Japanese Pure Land schools. Work Contemplation upon Amida Buddha's wisdom-eye

Hōnen (May 13, 1133 – February 29, 1212) was the religious reformer and founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jōdo-shū ("The Pure Land School"). He is also considered the 7th Jōdo Shinshū Patriarch. Hōnen became a Tendai initiate at an early age, but grew disaffected and sought an approach to Buddhism that anyone could follow, even during the perceived

Hōnen (1133–1212), more fully Hōnen Shōnin Genkū, was a Japanese Buddhist priest and reformer, and the founder of the Jōdo Shū sect of Japanese Buddhism. Hōnen's life reflects the changing times in which he lived as well as his role in those changes. He was born in the 4th month of 1133 in Mimasaka province (modern Okayama prefecture) into a provincial military family.

Kūkai (27 July 774 – 22 April 835), also known posthumously as Kōbō Daishi, was a Japanese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and poet who founded the Esoteric Shingon school of Buddhism. He travelled to China, where he studied Tangmi (Chinese Vajrayāna Buddhism) under the monk Huiguo. Upon returning to Japan, he founded Shingon—the Japanese branch of Vajrayāna Buddhism. Mount Kōya is a main centre of Shingon

Ekai Kawaguchi (1866-1945) was a Japanese Buddhist monk who was famed for his 4 journeys to Nepal and 2 to Tibet. Kawaguchi was the 1st recorded Japanese citizen to travel to either country. Ekai Kawaguchi was shocked at the lack of hygiene by Tibetans, the filth of Tibetan cities, and many Tibetan customs, including sexual practices, monastic immoderation, corruption and superstitious beliefs.

Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki (1870 - 1966), was a Japanese-American Buddhist monk, essayist, philosopher, religious scholar, translator, and writer. He was a scholar and author of books and essays on Buddhism, Zen and Shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both Zen and Shin (and Far Eastern philosophy in general) to the West. Suzuki was also a prolific translator of Chinese, Japanese, and Sanskrit literature.