The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1894 page)

) revered by E. Asian Buddhists:
Wu-liang-shou ching
(Jap.,
Muryojukyo
; Larger Pure Land S
tra);
O-mi-t’o ching
(Jap.,
Amidakyo
; Smaller Pure Land S
tra);
Kuan wu-liang-shou-fo ching
(Jap.,
Kanmury
juky
; Pure Land Meditation S
tra). According to them, Amit
bha's realm is located in the western direction, and it is known by the name
Sukh
vati
(Skt.; Chin.,
chilo
; Jap.,
gokuraku
), meaning ‘Utmost Bliss’. The chanting of Amit
bha's name, known in Japan as the
nembutsu
, emerged as the most common practice.

 
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Pure Land schools
.

A devotional form of Buddhism centring on the Buddha Amit
bha
(Skt.; Chin., O-mi-t’o; Jap.,
Amida
) and his transcendent realm known as
Pure Land
. Everything in Pure Land is conducive to Buddhist enlightenment; hence, persons born there in their next lifetime will attain
nirv
na
without fail. Pure Land Buddhism originated in India, but it gained its largest following in E. Asia once Pure Land scriptures were translated into Chinese. One of China's early Pure Land adherents was
Hui-yuan
(334–416). The spread of Pure Land Buddhism to the general populace occurred a century or two later as a result of the evangelistic efforts of several Pure Land masters. The first of these was T’an-luan (476–?560). He embraced the Pure Land teachings at the urging of the Indian priest Bodhiruci, a famous transmitter and translator of Buddhist scriptures. Tao-ch’o (562–645), who carried on T’an-luan's work, added a historical dimension to the Pure Land teachings. Taoch'o's successor, Shan-tao (613–81), was the great systematizer of Pure Land thought. He encouraged believers in five types of religious practice: reciting scripture, meditating on Amit
bha and his Pure Land, worshipping Amit
bha, chanting his name, and making praises and offerings to him. Among these he emphasized the invocation of Amit
bha's name as the paramount act leading to birth in Pure Land. The simplicity of this practice, known as the
nien-fo
(Chin.; Jap.,
nembutsu
), made Pure Land an appealing form of Buddhism to those unable to perform more rigorous religious devotions.
Pure Land Buddhism passed into Japan as one of many cultural imports from China. From
c.
10th cent., Pure Land increased in popularity with the publication of a handbook on Pure Land practice by the
Tendai
priest
Genshin
(942–1017), entitled the
j
y
sh
. Pure Land did not emerge as an independent school of Japanese Buddhism until
H
nen
(1133–1212). Under H
nen's leadership a formal Pure Land school known as the
J
do
school came into existence. Among his followers
Shinran
(1173–1262) stressed faith in Amit