Shinran is known as a dōsō 堂僧 （“hall monk”） of the Jōgyōdō 常行堂 at Hieizan Enryakuji Temple. However, in fact, Shinran’s practice and study at Hieizan have not been researched in detail. One reason is that there are no historical sources on 13th century Hieizan.
I believe that it is possible to examine this issue by using historical records and sources of other Tendai temples of that time. In this paper, first, I show fundamental characteristics of the dōsō from my earlier articles. From these, it became clear that Shinran practiced as a dōsō based on the Pure Land teaching of Amida before he met Hōnen.
Second, I consider one of the annual events held on Hieizan in the fall, the yama no nembutsu 山の念仏 or fudan nembutsu service 不断念仏会 from a historical source, the Rinnōji records 輪王寺文書. What became clear from this consideration was the importance of Ennin 円仁 in the Tendai Jōdo sect and the esoteric elements in the Jōgyōdō.
