Jōdoshū, the school of Pureland known as also Jōdo Buddhism.

It is a
section or school of pure land Buddhism that was founded by Venerable
Hōnen in the twelfth century, during the period of Kamakura (1185-
1333). Jōdoshū, the independent school was devoted to Amida (Skt.
Amitābha) Buddha. The main method was nembutsu (recitation of the
name Amitābha Buddha), Sole reliance of Buddha Amitābha that refers
to focuses on the power of Amitābha Buddha. Although there were other
schools before, Buddhism became popular through Jōdoshū in Japan and
later it became the culture of the nation.
The three-person, Eikū, Ryōnin, and Genshin (942-1017) was the master
before established the Jōdoshū. They had different kinds of methods
besides nembutsu but the same practice to reborn in Pure Land. like,
Invocation of Amida’s name while visualizing his body and
circumam-buiating his image.

The main teaching is visualizing the Buddha. The Basic foundation is

Pratyutpannasamādhi sūtra (179), early Chinese worship of Amitābha in
Pure land school from the Monk Huiy-uan (334-416) in Mount- Lu for
the meditation of the Buddha of the ten directions. Another Sūtra, Kuan
wu-liang-shou-fo-ching (Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra) was available in
Chinese translation in the fifth century that focuses on only the Buddha
Amitābha. Both texts were introduced in Japan by the Tiantai (Jpn:
Tendai). Chinese monk Zhiyi (538-597) was formulated the method of
meditation throughout these Sūtras. Moreover, the larger
Sukhāvatīvyuha Sūtra was translated five times but the translation by
Buddhabhadra in the fifth century is much popular than others. The
larger and smaller Sukhāvatīvyuha Sūtras known as the Muryō-jukyō
and āmidakyō.
Sukhāvatīvyuhopadeśa, Jpn: Ōjōron (Wuliangshou jing yu-p’o-t’iche
yüan-sheng chi) the commentary of Ācārya Vasubandhu is the
inspiration text in Jōdo sects. Moreover, besides the main commentary,
they read Wang-sheng- lun-chu (Ōjōronchū), the commentary of pure
land thinker Tanluan (476-542) that refers to the easy path of salvation
(igyōdō), worship the Buddha rather than the more traditional
practices of mental cultivation.

Master Hōnen was born on May 13(April 7),1133. He began his

Buddhist teaching at the Tendai center on Mount Hiei. At the age of
fourteen, he was ordinated and after three years, he left the Tendai center
because of some bad behavior of the fellow monk and went to Kurodani
for study under the master Eikū. He studied twenty-five years there.
During this period he studied Pureland texts and also practiced
Nembutsu Zammai advocated by master Eikū with the master
Genshin’s Ōjōyōshū (essentials of Pureland rebirth). Moreover, he
studied the other Buddhist doctrines, texts, and practices of six Buddhist
sects of the Nara period, Shingon (Vajrayāna) and Zen. In 1175, he
realized that one’s absolute faith in the Amitābha Buddha by practicing
Nembutsu can be reborn in Pure land that is the vow of Buddha
Amitābha.
In 1197, master Hōnen wrote “Senchaku hongan nembutsushū (a
collection of passages on the original vow of Amitābha Buddha in
which Nembutsu is chosen above all)” for the request of prime
minister Kujo Kanezane. Master Hōnen two path of salvation by
following the Daochuo, another pure land master, Shōdōmon (gate of
sages) that refers to the difficult path for people in the Mappō period,
practicing own power and the second one is Jōdomon (gates of
Pureland) that refers easy path by the power of Amitābha Buddha. Then
Jōdo sect opened for all classes of people. He mentioned basically by
Constant repetition of Nembutsu, one’s mind will be purified and clear
from all doubt that leads to moments of awakening(satori).
Petition to the emperor, Go Toba for the prohibition of Senju Nembutsu.
Shinto was the native religion of Japan. At the first time, Buddhism was
not popular among the common people because of some complex
subjects. moreover, there was some conflict with the native religion of
Japan, Shinto but soon Buddhism became familiar in Japan as the same
position of Shinto and they compliment each other. During the period of
Heian (794 to 1185), two Buddhist sects-Tendai sects (805) by Saicho
and Shingon sect (806) by Kukai were introduced in Japan from China.
From these two sects, other sects were originated like as Jodo sect, Jodo-
shin sect, Zen sect, Nichiren sect, etc.
In China and Japan, Pure land (China: Jingtu, Japan: Jōdo) practice and
doctrine is a branch and independent sects of Buddhism. firstly,
Venerable Hōnen followed the Tendai sects. In the Tendai sect, they
were followed different methods of practicing besides the Nembutsu.
During the period of.. Buddhism became an integral part of the
government. So the government Started to control Buddhism. and the
development of Buddhism became gradual. Another monk, Suzuki
Shōsan (1579-1655), a practitioner of Nembutsu and Zen focused on the
value of work. He believed that even working time also can do the
recitation to get salvation.
During the period of Meji era (1868-1912), the government released the
control of Buddhism. Shintō became the state religion. They after
focused on Nembutsu on the Amitabha Buddha and intensive recitation
that was advocated by the Yamazaki Bennei (1859-1920) who is the
founder of Kōmyōkai. later, when the period of recitation became long
then it became difficult for the people. After, Shiio Benkyō (1876-1971)
founder of Kyōseikai believed that purification or salvation is not for
only one individual for all the people in the world that refers on the
practices with the social work as well. So in the modern era, the Pure
land school’s followers focused on more Social work as well as
practicing Nembutsu on Buddha Amitābha to get salvation.