Honen was a Japanese Buddhist monk who lived during the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He is best known for founding the Pure Land school of Buddhism in Japan, which emphasizes devotion to the Amitabha Buddha. Honen taught that by sincerely reciting the Nembutsu, or the name of Amitabha, individuals could attain enlightenment and be reborn in the Pure Land. Honen's teachings were revolutionary at the time, as they made Buddhist practice more accessible to the common people. His approach focused on faith and devotion rather than complex rituals or scholarly study, leading to a significant shift in Japanese Buddhism and influencing later figures like Shinran, his disciple.