The Growth of Pure Land Buddhism in the Heian Period

This chapter first discusses how Pure Land Buddhism was introduced into the Japanese Tendai school by Ennin (794-864) and gradually became an important presence in the school. The chapter next takes up the volatile religious situation of the tenth century and discusses how Pure Land Buddhism became widely practiced, thanks to the activities of the charismatic miracle-working Kūya (903-972). The chapter closes with an account of Yoshishige no Yasutane (931-997), a noted literati and Pure Land devotee who created the Kangakue (Association for the Encouragement of Learning), one of the earliest associations that included the Pure Land nenbutsu practice among its activities.