The services held at the Hongwanji until then included the chanting of Zendo Daishi’s “In Praise of Birth in the Pure Land” ( Ojo Raisan). From about the beginning of the Bummei era (began in 1469 AD), however, this was changed to chanting the “Hymn of Truth Faith” followed by several verses of “Hymns in Japanese.” Clearly this is further indication of how faithfully Master Rennyo wished to follow the teaching of the Venerable Master Shinran, and the great importance he placed on shinjin.

During the 8th lunar month of the 7th year of Bummei (1475 AD) when he was 61 years of age, Master Rennyo left the Yoshizaki area. Passing through Wakasa, Konama, Tanba and Settsu, by years-end, he had moved to Deguchi Village in Kawachi Province (Kozen Temple). The next year he visited Kyogyo Temple in Tonda, Settsu; Shinsho Temple, presently Sakai Betsuin in Sakai; and other areas to spread the Nembutsu teaching even wider.

During the 1st lunar month of the 10th year of Bummei (1478 AD) when he was 64 years of age, Master Rennyo moved to Yamashina, a suburb of Kyoto, to rebuild the Hongwanji Headquarters Temple. The rebuilding was largely completed by the 15th year of Bummei (1483 AD). The structure was far larger than the Otani Hongwanji which it replaced.

About that time, many leaders of different Pure Land schools and their followers joined Master Rennyo and became part of the Hongwanji. Kyogo of the Bukkoji branch joined Master Rennyo during the 13th year of Bummei (1482 AD), Zenchin of Izumo Temple of the Goshoji branch joined during the 14th year of Bummei (1483 AD), and Shoe of the Kinshokuji branch joined during the 2nd year of Meio (1443 AD). With these additions, the Hongwanji became the largest religious organization in Japan.

The great increase in the number of Hongwanji follow-ers is mentioned in “Heard and Recorded During Master Rennyo’s Lifetime,” in the following words:

The prosperity of a teaching does not depend on the number of people who gather in its name. Rather, it is determined by even one more person receiving shinjin.

As indicated in this passage, rather than the number of followers, Master Rennyo was more concerned about the shinjin that was received.

And when Master Rennyo was 75 years of age, during the 8th lunar month of the 1st year of Entoku (1489 AD), he retired so his son Master Jitsunyo could succeed him. Even after retiring, however, Master Rennyo continued to work for the development of the Hongwanji.

During the 9th lunar month of the 5th year of Meio (1496 AD), when he was 82 years of age, Master Rennyo built a temple on land in what is now the city of Osaka. This temple would later be called the Ishiyama Hongwanji. He refers to it in Letter 15, Fascle IV of his “Honorable Letters” in the following way:

After seeing Osaka (in Ikutama estate, Higashinari district, Settsu province) for the first time, I sensed a link to it from the past and had a simple temple built in the traditional way. Construction began during the latter part of autumn during the 5th year of Meio. Three years have already sped by since then.

As can be determined from the passage, “in Ikutama estate, Higashinori district, Settsu Province,” the area referred to as “Osaka” (written with slightly different characters than presently used, but read the same) was far smaller than it is today. The name “Osaka” in this letter is considered the first time it was used in a written document.

Further, in “Gathering Dust Record” (Shujin-ki), is the passage:

Construction of the Osaka Temple in Ikutama estate, Higashinari district in Sesshu Province began during the fall of the 5th year of Meio (1496 AD), specifically on the 24th day of the 9th lunar month. (That was when Master Rennyo) became aware of (this place) where wolves and tigers live. There were no houses then, just fields.

As can be determined from this passage, only animals such as “tigers and wolves” lived in the area at that time. Actually, there were no tigers in Japan then, so Master Rennyo was obviously speaking figuratively. It appears there were no houses there either—only cultivated fields.

It is said that this temple in “Osaka” became a central gathering place for followers, and the beginning of the modern city of Osaka.