orig. Matsuwaka-Maru
born 1173, near Ky 014D; to, Japan
died Jan. 9, 1263, Ky 014D; to
Japanese philosopher and religious reformer.
He entered the priesthood at age nine and studied for 20 years at the centre founded by Saich 014D; on Mount Hiei. He later met H 014D; nen , founder of the J 014D; do sect (see Pure Land Buddhism ). When H 014D; nen's movement was suppressed, he and Shinran were exiled. For more than 20 years, Shinran lived an academic and missionary life, compiling the six volumes of his teachings. In 1224 he established J 014D; do Shinsh 016B; ("True Pure Land sect"). He refined the Pure Land teaching that salvation could be attained through chanting the name of the Buddha Amida ( Amit 0101; bha ) by saying that even one such utterance, if made with true faith, was sufficient for salvation. He advocated marriage for his priests to minimize the distance between clergy and laity. J 014D; do Shinsh 016B; is the largest Buddhist denomination in modern Japan.