Honen (??; May 13; 1133 - February 29; 1212) was the religious reformer and founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jodo shu (???; 'The Pure Land School'). In the related Jodo Shinshu sect; he is considered the Seventh Patriarch. Honen became a monk of the Tendai sect at an early age; but grew disaffected; and sought an approach to Buddhism that anyone could follow; even during the perceived Age of Dharma Decline. After discovering the writings of Chinese Buddhist; Shan-tao; he undertook the teaching of rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha through reciting the Buddha's name; or nembutsu.

Honen gathered a wide array of followers; but also critics. The emperor exiled Honen and his followers in 1207; after an incident regarding two of his disciples; in addition to persuasion by certain influential Buddhist communities. Honen was eventually pardoned and allowed to return to Kyoto where he stayed for a short time before his death.