Shinran was a Japanese buddhist priest and clergyman.
Background
Shinran was born at Hino, southeast of Kyoto on 21 May, 1173. His family was of the Fujiwara clan. His father, Hino Arinori, was an official concerned with the Empress Dowager's affairs. Later, it is said, his father abandoned the secular world to live in seclusion. Shinran's mother is said to have died when he was quite young. His childhood name was Wakamatsu Maru.
Education
He entered the religious life at the age of eight, becoming a disciple of Jien. He spent a number of years at the jogyo-zammai-do on Mount Hiei devoting himself to religious practices, but left the mountain in 1201 in order to search for the true way to salvation.
He became a follower of Honen, who taught that practice of the nembutsu-ritual invocation of the name of the Buddha Amida - alone was sufficient to assure one of rebirth in the Pure Land (Jodo) presided over by Amida.
Career
In Kyoto, he taught disciples who flocked to him.
In 1207 the older sects of Buddhism launched a vigorous movement against Honen and his disciples, which resulted in the punishment of a number of them. Honen was exiled to the island of Sado and Shinran to the province of Echigo.
Shinran was pardoned in 1211, but did not return to Kyoto, instead he went to Hitachi and Kasama in eastern Japan, where he worked to spread his teachings among the farmers.
In his late years he returned to Kyoto, but continued to send letters of guidance to his followers in the eastern regions.
His thought is characterized by a deepening and extension of the doctrines of Honen and emphasizes absolute reliance upon the saving powers of Amida. He also taught the doctrine of akunin shoki, according to which Amida’s salvation is intended above all for evil human beings who cannot avoid living lives of sin. He himself violated the traditional prohibition against marriage for the clergy, openly taking a wife, and called himself Gutoku Shinran, the “Stupid Shavepate,” who is “neither priest nor layman.”
In his late years he advocated a life of spontaneous action in which complete reliance is placed upon Amida.
Connections
He and his wife, Eshin-ni, had several children, among them a son named Zenran and a daughter named Kakushin-ni. Zenran turned away from Shinran’s teachings and caused his father great grief in Shinran’s old age.