User:Gebotaro

History of Buddhism in Japan Kamakura Period (1185–1333) The Kamakura period was a period of crises in which the control of the country moved from the imperial aristocracy to the samurai. In 1185 the Shogunate was established at Kamakura.[10]

This period saw the introduction of the two schools that had perhaps the greatest impact on the country: (1) the Amidist Pure Land schools, promulgated by evangelists such as Genshin, Hōnen and Shinran that emphasize salvation of general public through faith in Amitabha. Jodo Shinshu (True pure land sect) was founded by Shinran. This sect allows marriage by buddhist monk and focused on salvation of common men, women and even criminals/sinners by teaching that saying nembutsu (prayer of Buddha) is a declaration of faith in Amida's salvation. Jodo Shinshu remains the largest Buddhist sect in Japan. And (2) the more philosophical Zen schools, promulgated by monks such as Eisai and Dogen, which emphasize liberation through the insight of meditation, which were equally rapidly adopted mostly by the ruling class of Samurai and had a profound impact on Japanese culture.

Additionally, it was during the Kamakura period that the influential monk Nichiren began teaching devotion to the Lotus Sutra. Eventually, his disciples formed their own school of Nichiren Buddhism, which includes various sects that have their own interpretations of Nichiren's teachings.