Japan observes Hōonkō to honor the founder of its most popular form of Buddhism
Japanese Buddhists observe Hōonkō to honor Shinran Shonin, the 13th-century monk who founded Jōdo Shinshū and transformed spiritual life by making enlightenment accessible to ordinary people.
Hōonkō is the most significant annual gathering for followers of Jōdo Shinshū, the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. Observed in late November, the ritual expresses gratitude for Shinran Shonin, who broke traditional monastic rules by marrying and teaching that spiritual liberation was available to everyone, regardless of social status.
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