Thus was the Hongwanji established by Rennyo, at Yamashina. After him came Jitsunyo, who, in 1525, handed over his high-priesthood to Shonyo, son of Yennyo. During the latter's office, that is, in August, 1532, Rokkaku Sadayori, helped by unruly followers of the Hokke Sect, assailed the Hongwanji and burned it to the ground. Thereupon, Shonyo, carrying the image of the founder with him, removed to the branch temple in Osaka (at Ishiyama), where he died in 1554.

He was succeeded by his son, Kennyo. In 1570, he was forced to wage war on Oda Nobunaga, the famous general, who frequently hurled his strong army against the Hongwanji, but with no perceptible success; for the followers

of the True Sect were so devoted to their cause that they were ready to sacrifice their lives whenever necessary.

In 1580, Kennyo Shonin, in accordance with the Imperial command, contracted terms of peace with Oda Nobunaga and removed to Sagi-no-mori in the Province of Kii. In 1582, however, the General planned an unexpected assault upon Sagi-no-mori with a large army. To capture Kennyo as prisoner of war, his soldiers were about ready to force the gate of the Hongwanji on June 3, when the news of the assassination of the General by his retainer, Akechi Mitsuhide, reached the attacking enemy, which thereupon beat a hasty retreat. Kennyo Shonin and his temple were thus miraculously saved from the impending peril.

In 1583, Kennyo moved to Kaidzuka in Idzumi; in 1591, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the illustrious general, donated

a tract of land at Nishi-Rokujo in the city of Kyoto for the rebuilding of the Hongwanji. Kennyo lived only one year after his last removal to Kyoto, for he died in the year following (1592). The mantle of the residing priesthood now fell upon the shoulders of Kyonyo, the eldest son of Kennyo.

Footnotes

^29:17 "The Life of Shinran, the Holy Sage of the Hongwanji with Illustrations."

^29:18 A supplementary work to the "Life of the Old Sage." The Old Sage is the master of Shinran Shonin. 9 fasciculi.

^30:19 "Sayings and doings of Shinran, which were orally transmitted" by Nyoshin to Kakunyo. 3 fasciculi.

^30:20 "Refutation of (twenty-one) false views (against the teaching of Shinran)." 2 fasciculi.

^30:21 A work treating of Nembutsu (the reciting of Amida's name), of which the first four chapters record some sayings and doings of Shinran, while the last one chapter is devoted to the statement of the author's own views on the holding fast (shudzi) to the doctrine of Nembutsu.

^30:22 A collection of such passages as relating to the original prayers (hongwan) of Amida.

^30:23 A book explaining the five essential ones out of the fortyeight prayers of Amida.

^30:24 A work explaining the significance of the eighteenth prayer of Amida.