Hōnen to gokuraku jōdo: tokubetsuten = Hōnen and Pure Land Buddhism : special exhibition

Abstract

"This special exhibition, Hōnen and Pure Land Buddhism, marks 850 years since the founding of the Japanese Pure Land sect Jōdo Shō in 1175. Hōnen (1133-1212), the founder of this Buddhist school, was born in the late Heian period (794-1185), during a time of turmoil. The incessant insurrections, disasters, and epidemics produced a pervasive and exhausting sense of hopelessness among the people of his day. It was in this environment that Hōnen encountered the teachings of the great Chinese Tang-dynasty Pure Land master Shandao (J: Zendō Daishi; 613-681) and awakened to the insight that all people have an equal chance to be saved by the Buddha Amida (Skt: Amitābha or Amitāyus) and to be born into his Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss after death. The way they could do this was by repeatedly calling Amida Buddhas sacred name through a recitation called the nenbutsu. This practice, which continues to the present day, appealed to nobles and commoners alike, attracting many followers to Hōnen and uplifting them through his teachings. This exhibition traces the history of Jōdo Shū from its founding by Hōnen, through the establishment of various branches and doctrines by his disciples, to its rise under the patronage of the Tokugawa government. It offers a precious opportunity to explore the lives and aspirations of Hōnen and his disciples, who endeavored to spread this form of spirituality to all people indiscriminately during difficult times, and to view objects that have been carefully preserved and handed down over centuries, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties"-- Foreword (page [iii]).