RELIGIOUS FIGURE

Hōnen

1133 - 1212

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Hōnen (法然; Japanese pronunciation: [hoꜜː.neɴ], May 13 (April 7), 1133 – February 29, 1212), also known as Genkū, was the founding figure of the Jōdo-shū (浄土宗; "Pure Land School"), 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. Hōnen gathered a wide array of followers and attracted numerous critics. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Hōnen is the 1,597th most popular religious figure (down from 1,454th in 2019), the 708th most popular biography from Japan (down from 651st in 2019) and the 18th most popular Japanese Religious Figure.

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES

Among religious figures, Hōnen ranks 1,597 out of 3,187. Before him are Francisco de Borja, Paulo Evaristo Arns, Antipope Innocent III, Olimpia Maidalchini, Saint Aurelius, and Francesco Monterisi. After him are Shaykh Ahmad, Catherine of Genoa, Akile Hatun, Fructuosus, Jean Daniélou, and Pietro I Orseolo.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1133, Hōnen ranks 5. Before him are Henry II of England, Sigurd II of Norway, Agnes of Courtenay, and Stephen IV of Hungary. After him are Al-Zafir, Urraca of Castile, Queen of Navarre, and Saint Thorlak. Among people deceased in 1212, Hōnen ranks 8. Before him are Vsevolod the Big Nest, Maria of Montferrat, Beatrice of Swabia, Felix of Valois, Anna Komnene Angelina, and Bernhard, Count of Anhalt. After him are Philip I of Namur, and David Komnenos.

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In Japan

Among people born in Japan, Hōnen ranks 708 out of 6,245. Before him are Hōjō Sōun (1432), Toru Iwatani (1955), Kōzō Okamoto (1947), Nitobe Inazō (1862), Toyohiro Akiyama (1942), and Osami Nagano (1880). After him are Taro Kagawa (1922), Shusaku Hirasawa (1949), Hiroyoshi Nishizawa (1920), Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758), Hirokazu Kore-eda (1962), and Takashi Murakami (1962).

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES In Japan

Among religious figures born in Japan, Hōnen ranks 18. Before him are Eisai (1141), Saichō (767), Shinran (1173), Dom Justo Takayama (1552), Shunryū Suzuki (1904), and Kōdō Sawaki (1880). After him are Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda (1949), Hōjō Ujimasa (1538), Soga no Umako (551), Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi (1958), Senhime (1597), and Taisen Deshimaru (1914).

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