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

The Seven Patriarchs of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism - Master Shinran singled out seven masters or Patriarchs of Pure Land Buddhism in the millennium prior to his own, beginning with the writings of Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna and continuing to his own mentor, Master Hōnen (Genku). He also included Masters T'an-luan, Tao-ch'o, Shan-tao (Jp. Zendō)and Genshin (a.k.a. Eshin Sozu).Each of the Seven Patriarchs was himself an aspirant for

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

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.

Shandao (Shan-tao, 613-681) was born at Suzhou in the present Anhui Province. When young, he entered the priesthood and devoted himself to the study of the Larger Sūtra of Amitābha and the Vimalakīrti Sūtra. One day he saw a painting of the Pure Land, which led him to aspire for it. He visited Mt. Lu and other places to study and practice the Pure Land

Shandao (613–681) was an eminent Buddhist scholar and major figure in the Chinese Pure Land (Jingtu) movement. His writings had a strong influence on later Pure Land masters including Hōnen and Shinran in Japan. Shandao (Shan-tao, 613-681) was born at Suzhou in the present Anhui Province (according to another tradition, Zhucheng in the Shandong Province) and was ordained while still a youth.,