The Life of Shinran Shonin

Shinran Shonin, born on the outskirts of Kyoto in 1173, was an eminent Buddhist figure of the Kamakura period (1192-1333), a period regarded as the golden age of Buddhism. A number of outstanding Buddhist teachers appeared during this time, and it is on the basis of their teachings that most of the schools of Japanese Buddhism are founded.

Shinran received his ordination at the age of nine. This was followed by twenty years of traditional Buddhist training and instruction at the Tendai monastery on Mt. Hiei, one of the major centers of Buddhist learning at that time.

In 1201, at the age of twenty-nine, the course of Shinran’s life changed as a result of his encounter with the great master, Honen Shonin (1133-1212). Honen was teaching the Nembutsu, (the recitation of the name of Amida Buddha), a simple practice which anyone could perform, but was also deeply rooted in the Buddhist religious tradition.

The immense popularity of the teaching drew the sharp disapproval of other contending sects, and in 1207, the government issued a proclamation banning the teaching of Nembutsu. Honen was exiled to Tosa (in Shikoku) and Shinran to Echigo (present day Niigata prefecture). Teacher and disciple were never to meet again.

Although Shinran was pardoned in 1211, he did not return to Kyoto. He elected to be, “…neither monk nor layman,” and lived among the common people. With his family, he moved to Hitachi (present day Ibaragi prefecture) where he was to spend the next twenty years of his life. During this time, he propagated the teaching of Nembutsu.
He returned to Kyoto at the age of sixty. During the last thirty years of his life, he completed the writing of many religious tracts and verses. His most important work is the Kyogyoshinsho (a collection of passages expounding the teaching, practice, faith, and attainment of Pure Land Buddhism), which expresses the foundation of Shin Buddhist doctrine.

On November 28th, 1262, Shinran passed away at the age of ninety, bringing to a close the life of one of the most remarkable figures in Japanese Buddhist history. Following the funeral services on November 29th, his ashes were interred at Otani at the western foot of the Higashiyama mountains. The memorial established there was the original predecessor to the present Otani Mausoleum.

Jodo-Shinshu [Pure Land True Sect] was founded by Saint Shiran (1173-1262). It was revived and greatly expanded by Rennyo (1415-1499), a descendant of Shinran and revered 8th high priest of Hongan-ji. Intent on the sect’s revival, Rennyo traveled throughout the Kinki and Hokuriku areas propagating the Shinshu doctrine. In the 5th imperial year of Meio (1496) he established priests’ quarters (now the site of Osaka Castle) that later became Ishiyama Hongan-ji.
At that time, the area between the temple to Hoenzaka was known as “Ozaka” or “Kozaka.” However, as Rennyo was the fist to refer to “Osaka” in writing, it became the general name applied to the entire Naniwa (ancient Osaka) area. The name was officially changed to “Osaka” in 1868.
In time the temple and town grew to resemble a great stockade, but in 1570 the temple was attacked in the battle of Ishiyama (by Nobunaga Oda in his campaign to dominate the entire country). After 11 years of resistance, to restore peace, the temple was finally abandoned and was moved to three different locations and eventually to Kyoto.
In the 4th imperial year of Bunroku (1595) in Kyoto, the 12th high priest of Hongan-ji established Otani Hongan-ji at Watanabe (in Osaka). The temple was relocated to the present site of Namba Betsuin in 1598, and was the main temple of the Shinshu Otani Sect until Higashi Hongan-ji was built in Kyoto through the aegis of Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1602.