Short History of Hongwanji

The Hongwanji developed from a modest temple built at the site of ShinranShonin's mausoleum. After his death, his cremated remains were interredat Otani in the eastern hills of Kyoto and marked by a simple stone obelisk.
Many followers came to pay their respects, particularly from the distant"Kanto" region (a region in the eastern part of central Honshu),and in 1272, with their support, Shinran’s daughter "Kakushinni",had his ashes moved to the grounds of her residence at Yoshimizu, slightlyto the north. There, a hexagonal chapel was built and an image of Shinranenshrined.
Several years later, with the death of her husband, title to the residencepassed to Kakushinni, allowing her to determine the future of the chapel,and in 1277, she dedicated her property to the Shin movement as a permanentmausoleum, to be tended by a person of Shinran's lineage. The chapel andland became known as the Otani Mausoleum and was supported by followersin the Kanto area.
The first intendant of the mausoleum was Kakushinni's son, "Kakue",and in 1310 he was succeeded by his son, "Kakunyo". Kakunyo elevatedthe status of the mausoleum by gaining recognition for it as a temple,and further sought to make it the center of the Shin movement. It was hewho adopted the name Hongwanji (lit. "Temple of the Primal Vow").
In 1336, the Otani Mausoleum was burned during warfare between "AshikagaTakauji" and Emperor "Godaigo". Kakunyo rebuilt it, notas a hexagonal chapel, but as a regular temple. In succeeding generations,the Hongwanji developed the present format of two halls, the Founder'sHall and the Hall of Amida Buddha. Factions formed among "Shin"followers, however, and most of the ten Shin denominations arose duringthis period, around central temples in various parts of the country. Itwas not until the time of "Rennyo" (1415-1495), the eighth generationleader that the Hongwanji became the center of the Shin tradition, independentfrom the "Tendai" organization.　
After assuming the role as head of the Hongwanji (now termed Monshu; theHead of Jodo Shinshu Denomination), Rennyo spread the teaching in nearbyprovinces with astonishing success, communicating the teaching in forceful,colloquial language, particularly through the use of "Gobunsho"(A collection of Rennyo's letters,eighty in numbers on the teachings ofShinran,edited by "Ennyo", Rennyo's grand-son.). Under Rennyo,the Hongwanji grew remarkably.