Honganji

Honganji (本願寺, lit. temple of the original vow) is a term that has been used to refer to a number of Buddhist temples across Japan's history. However, it refers primarily to a pair of temples, which were once one, in Kyoto.

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The Honganji was established as a temple in 1321, on the site of the Otani Mausoleum, where Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) sect was buried. Kakunyo became the first chief priest of the Honganji, and dedicated it to the worship of Amida Buddha. The Honganji first gained power and importance in the 15th century, when Rennyo became its eighth chief priest. However, the Tendai sect, based on Mount Hiei, saw this expansion as a threat and attacked the Honganji three times with their army of warrior monks. Rennyo fled to Yoshizaki, where he founded the Ikko sect.

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