Doom was closing in. It was greeted with anxiety but without surprise. Its coming had been foreseen. Two centuries earlier — in the seventh year of the Eisho Era, 1052 by the Western calendar — humanity had entered the degenerate age of Mappo, the Latter Days of the Law. So taught the Buddhist sages.
What did this mean, practically speaking? Political disorder, cosmic disorder, evil beyond anything imaginable — or maybe good beyond anything imaginable, for had not Amida, the "Buddha of boundless light," vowed eons earlier to save all who faithfully called on him?
The principal preachers of the new Amidist sect were Honen (1133-1212) and Shinran (1173-1263). Their vision of a "Pure Land" of radiant jewels, glittering palaces, celestial music and "the light radiating from the Buddha" took hold among a population slowly sinking into earthly despair. Only believe, pleaded Honen and Shinran, and rebirth in the Pure Land will surely follow.