Seizan

Seizan (西山) is a branch of Jōdo-shū Buddhism that was founded by Hōnen's disciple, Shōkū.

Later, Hōnen's disciple became the head priest of Eikan-dō, and established the Seizan branch, fully converting the temple into a Jōdo one.

As a branch of Jōdo, the central practice is devotion to Amida Buddha, and recitation of the nembutsu.

The idea behind shiraki no nembutsu is to demonstrate that in the age of Mappo, people cannot achieve Enlightenment on their own, and so they should rely on the compassion of Amida Buddha.

Shōkū, its founder, was said to recite the nembutsu 60,000 times a day and would endure other ascetic practices.