Myōkōnin

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Myōkōnin (Jap.). One who practises Shin Buddhism (Jōdo Shinshū) in exemplary fashion, and who is likened to a lotus flower. Biographies of myōkōnin were first compiled by Gōsei (1720–94) and followed by others of Jōdo Shinshū tradition. They were relatively unknown until D. T. Suzuki (1870–1965), the Zen scholar, drew attention to them as exemplifying Japanese spirituality.

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