Hōnen

Also known as Honen, Hounen

Person · Open Library

Born: 1133
Died: 1212
Works: 28

Top works

法然, 一遍
法然上人集
選擇本願念佛集
An anthology of the teachings of Honen Shonin
Hōnen shōnin zenshū

via Open Library + Wikidata

Recent publications · Crossref

1 total works indexed

Passages on the Selection of the Nenbutsu in the Original Vow
· 2025

via Crossref · CC0

Key facts

Religious biography.name: Hōnen (法然)
Religious biography.image: Takanobu-no-miei.jpg
Religious biography.caption: Portrait of Honen by Fujiwara Takanobu, 12th Century
Religious biography.birth_name: Seishimaru
Religious biography.alias: Genkū (源空)
Religious biography.birth_date: May 13 (April 7), 1133
Religious biography.birth_place: Kume, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Religious biography.death_place: Kyoto, Japan
Religious biography.religion: Buddhism
Religious biography.school: Jōdo-shū school of Pure Land Buddhism
Religious biography.lineage: Tendai, Sammon lineage
Religious biography.title: Founder of Jōdo-shū

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Takanobu-no-miei.jpg

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Hōnen
date of birth: 1133-05-13
date of death: 1212-02-29
name in kana: ほうねん
name in native language: 法然
birth name: 勢至丸
pseudonym: 源空

Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~47 min read

Article

24 sections

Contents

Biography
Early life
Departure from Mount Hiei
A rising figure in the capital
Exile and the final years
Character
Works
''Senchakushū''
Other
Teaching
Relying on the Buddha's power
Nembutsu
The "selection" of the nembutsu
Equality
Sincere faith
Constant repetition of nembutsu
Other practices
Amida and the Pure Land
Influence
Disciples
Criticisms
Notes
References
External links

, also known as Genkū, was the founding figure of the , the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.

Hōnen became a Tendai initiate at an early age, but grew disaffected and sought an approach to Buddhism that all people of all classes and genders could follow, even during the current Age of Dharma Decline. After reading Shandao's Commentary on the Amitāyus Contemplation Sūtra, Hōnen devoted himself to attaining birth in the pure land of Amitābha Buddha (Amida) through the practice of "recitation of the Buddha's name" (Jp: nembutsu) and to spreading this teaching among all people.