Our Saint Honen_Animation in English

A.D.

Honen's Age

Events

1133

1

4th Month - Born in Mimasaka province (now Okayama Prefecture;) named Seishi-maru.

1134

2

Floods, famine and tuberculosis strike the country.

1141

9

Spring - Honen's father, Uruma no Tokikuni, killed by Sada-akira.   Seishi-maru sent to Bodai-ji, his uncle's temple.

1145

13

Spring - Ascends Mt. Hiei and begins study with Genko.

1146

14

The great fire of Kyoto.

1147

15

Begins study with Koen and is ordained.

1148

16

Spring - Begins study Tendai doctrine.

1150

18

9th month - Begins study with Eiku and given the dharma name, Honen-bo Genku.

1156

24

Visits the Shakado hall on the way to Nara to study and find the way of salvation. Hogen political insurrection.

1159

27

Heiji political insurrection.

1167

35

Taira no Kiyomori becomes chancellor (dajodaijin).

1171

39

Kansai becomes Honen's disciple.

1175

43

Spring - Honen founds his independent Pure Land denomination, Jodo Shu, at Kurodani. Leaves Kurodani for Hirodani. Meets Yurenbo Ensho.

1177

45

Yurenbo dies. Honen leaves Hirodani for Higashiyama Otani (later known as Chionin)

1181

49

Nationwide famine strikes.

1183

51

7th month - Minamoto no Yoshinaka invades Kyoto.   The only day Honen does not study.

1186

54

Autumn - Ohara Debate (or in 1189)

1190

58

Honen lectures on the Three Pure Land Sutras (Jodo-san-bu-kyo) at Todai-ji temple in Nara.

1192

60

Kumagai Naozane becomes Honen's disciple.

1195

63

Genchi becomes Honen's disciple.

1197

65

Shoko becomes Honen's disciple.

1198

66

Honen writes the Senchaku Hongan Nembutsu-shu (Passage on the Selection of the Nembutsu in the Original Vow). Kosai becomes Honen's disciple. Honen attains absorption in the nembutsu (nembutsu-samadhi).

1199

67

Shoko is given a copy of the Senchaku-shu.

1200

68

1st month -Dogen, founder of Zen sect Soto-shu, is born.

2nd month - Honen attends Kansai's deathbed.

1201

69

Shinran becomes Honen's disciple.

1202

70

Kanezane ordained by Honen. Chosai becomes Honen's disciple.

1204

72

3rd month -Ryukan is given a copy of the Senchaku-shu.

8th month -Shoko leaves for Kyushu.

10th month - The armed monks of Mt. Hiei appeal to Zasu Shinsho to stop the nembutsu.

11th month -Honen warns the nembutsu followers to conduct themselves properly by issuing the Seven Article Pledge

(Shichikajo Kishomon).

1205

73

Monks from Kofuku-ji temple appeal to the Imperial Court to stop the nembutsu. Shinran is given a copy of the Senchaku-shu.

1206

74

Anraku and Juren executed.

7th month - Honen leaves Otani for Komatsu-dono.

1207

75

2nd month - Order for Honen's exile to Tosa issued.

Honen leaves Kyoto and, via Muro-no-tsu harbor, arrives on Shikoku island.

4th month - Kanezane dies.

12th month- Imperial Order of Honen's pardon issued.

1208

76

Honen stays at the Kachiodera temple in Osaka.

1211

79

8th month- Permitted to return to Kyoto.

11th month - Honen begins to live at Higashiyama Otani.

1212

80

23rd of 1st month -Honen writes the One Sheet Document (Ichimai Kishomon) and gives it to Genchi. 25th of 1st month- Dies at the age of eighty. Koben (Myo-e) writes the Zaijarin to criticize the Senchaku-shu.

1220

Ji-en writes the Gukansho, an account of the Kamakura Era.

1227

The monk of Mt. Hiei try to exhume Honen's body at Higashiyama cemetery. Shinku and other disciples of Honen move Hone's body to Nison-in temple.   Ryukan, Kua and Kosai exiled.

1st month -Honen's body cremated at Awano.