Most Famous Japanese Religious figures

Japan has produced 40 notable religious figures throughout history, led by Nichiren. Rankings are drawn from a cross-verified academic dataset of 152,953 people.

Category All
Citizenship All
N
Nichiren Japanese Bhikkhu 1222 – 1282
# 5,907
K
Kūkai Japanese Monk 774 – 835
# 7,408
D
Dōgen Japanese Bhikkhu 1200 – 1253
# 8,760
S
Shinran Japanese Bhikkhu 1173 – 1263
# 12,737
H
Hōnen Japanese Bhikkhu 1133 – 1212
# 16,391
S
Saichō Japanese Bhikkhu 767 – 822
# 18,788
R
Ryōkan Japanese Monk 1758 – 1831
# 22,731
SS
Shunryū Suzuki Japanese Missionary 1904 – 1971
# 30,549
E
Eisai Japanese Priest 1141 – 1215
# 33,218
TS
Takuan Sōhō Japanese Monaco 1573 – 1645
# 38,588
TD
Taisen Deshimaru Japanese Bhikkhu 1914 – 1982
# 43,784
NM
Nakayama Miki Japanese Religious 1798 – 1887
# 54,858
E
Ennin Japanese Priest 793 – 864
# 55,235
HE
Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle Japanese Priest 1898 – 1990
# 61,316
OD
Onisaburo Deguchi Japanese Religious 1871 – 1948
# 62,650
S
Sengai Japanese Bhikkhu 1750 – 1837
# 66,764
I
Ippen Japanese Bhikkhu 1234 – 1289
# 79,985
G
Gyōki Japanese Priest 668 – 749
# 84,072
M
Myōe Japanese Bhikkhu 1173 – 1232
# 88,045
BY
Bankei Yōtaku Japanese Religious 1622 – 1693
# 91,297