ABSTRACT
The Jôdo sect, whose name means Pure Land, was founded in Japan in 1175 by Genku, better known under the name of Hônen, who was a great saint. The doctrine is based on the sutras of Amithaba (literally, Infinite Light), and in particular upon the Sukhâvativyuha (description of the Sukhâvati Paradise), which are canonical texts. Before Hônen those texts had been commented in China by the sage Zendo in the seventh century, and in Japan itself by the celebrated priests Ekwan and Eshin. Hônen had more than a hundred disciples. Actually, the sect possesses 7118 temples or monasteries, of which the Chionin (Kyôto) is the most important and the most popular. The sect also counts more than 5500 abbots and priests, 2,200,000 perpetual subscribers, and 300,000 occasional and Shinto subscribers. Its annual budget amounts to more than one million yen. It has created 120 social assistance organisations. One of Hônen’s disciples, named Shoku, founded the Seizan branch, the perpetual members of which exceed 700,000.
