Hōnen (1133-1212)

Japanese Buddhist monk who founded the Pure Land school of Buddhism.

Hōnen trained as a priest of the Tendai school before deciding in 1175 that calling on the name of the Buddha was sufficient to gain the believer entry to the Western Paradise after death. He travelled the country, teaching people the invocation Namu Amida Butsu. The popularity of his simple formula, with no ethics attached, attracted resentment from the established schools of Buddhism, and Hōnen was exiled to the island of Shikoku 1207-11.

His works are Senjaku shū/Collection of Passages 1198 and Ichimai kishōmon/One-Page Testament 1212.