Saint Rennyo (1415–1499)

Saint Rennyo was a monk and the restorer of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (Jodo Shin Sect) in the Muromachi Period.

Rennyo was born in Otani Honbyo Temple in 1415 to his father, Zonnyo, the 7th Abbot of Honganji Temple. Around the time when Rennyo was born, Honganji Temple was in a dilapidated state so that he studied under Sonno in Shoren-in Temple, and later he made a pilgrimage to the historic sites of Saint Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

In 1457, his father Zonnyo passed away, and he became the 8th Abbot of Honganji Temple. Since then, he had earnestly dedicated himself to missionary activities to resolve the financial difficulty and disadvantageous situation of the temple. He expanded the power of the Jodo Shin Sect by bestowing Jujimyogo (10-character Buddhist prayer) to temples in various places. However, this expansion looked too rapid for Enryakuji Temple so that Enryakuji attacked Otani Honganji Temple which led to the danger of the demolition of Otani Honganji Temple. Rennyo fled to Omi and lived a nomadic life in Konan, the south of Lake Biwa. After that, he dedicated himself to missionary activities for the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in his entire life by building temples in various areas such as Chikamatsu Betsuin (branch temple of Honganji Temple) in the southern section of Onjoji Temple in 1469. He passed away in Yamashina Honganji Temple in 1499. There are some legends in Otsu City such as the protective Myogo stone and protective loving dog.