Jōdo-shū ("The Pure Land School"), also known as Jōdo Buddhism, is a branch of Pure Land Buddhism derived from the teachings of the Japanese ex-Tendai monk Hōnen. It was established in 1175 and is the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan, along with Jōdo Shinshū. Jōdo-shū is heavily influenced by the idea of Mappō or the "Age of Dharma Decline".

Seizan (西山) is the name of the branch of Jōdo-shū Pure Land Buddhism that was founded by Hōnen's disciple, Shōkū (1177-1247). As a branch of Jōdo, the central practice is devotion to Amida Buddha, and recitation of the nembutsu. Shōkū coined the practice, where one devotes himself to intense study of Buddhist literature, and then recites the nembutsu with deep, sincere faith.

Jōdo Shinshū ("The True Essence of the Pure Land Teaching"), also known as Shin Buddhism or True Pure Land Buddhism, is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran. Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. Shin Buddhism is considered the "Easy Path" because one is not compelled to practice it

Ippen Shōnin (1239–1289) was a Japanese Buddhist itinerant preacher (hijiri) who founded the Ji-shū ("Time sect") branch of Pure Land Buddhism. Ippen insisted that his practice was made for the Age in which he lived and so gave it the name Ji, which means “period” or “time”. Ippen and his friends travelled throughout the country proselytizing with their famous ecstatic Nembutsu Dance.