Ippen Shonin, the Buddhist itinerant preacher who traveled all over Japan

I respect many historical people, and he is one of most respectable ones.
He, Ippen Shonin (the holy priest Ippen) was born in Iyo province (the same area as current Ehime prefecture on Shikoku island) in the Kamakura period.
He lived
He came from former daimyo Kouno family but he became a priest when he was still a child.

In Kouno family, Ippen's grand father and uncles had fought the Jokyu war (1221) on emperor Gotoba side.
As a result of the losing battle of Gotoba side, Kouno family had lost most of their military power when Ippen was born.
It seemed to be one of reason Ippen had to become a priest in his childhood.
Besides that, Ippen lost his mother just before he entered in Buddhist temple.
He learned Buddhism in a temple in Dazaifu, Chikuzen province (a part of current Fukuoka prefecture) until age 25.

When his father died Ippen once returned to be a samurai, however some years later he became a priest again.
He trained himself, and then started the trip to preach.

In beginning of the trip, Ippen took Chouichi and Chouni, his cheerful wife and young daughter who also had been nuns, and servant Nembutsubou with him.
But soon he left them after they visited Kumano hongu shrine, Kii province (the area now Wakayama prefecture and part of Mie prefecture).
We can't confirm how he changed his mind, but to the expected very hard trip, we can't blame his decision.

He went on his trip alone.
At places he only told people to chant simple nembutsu (Buddhist invocation).
This was "nam amida butsu".
Ippen told people if they keep chanting the nembutsu they can get salvation.
So many men and women of all ages gathered to Ippen, then they become priest or nun and joined to Ippen as disciples.

At that period, most of Buddhist priests didn't care how women, very poor people or people with leprosy and serious disease could get salvation.
But Ippen let them joining to his party, and he continued his trip with them.
Ippen and the party traveled all over Japan and influenced many people.
Sometimes the party had "odori nembutsu (a dancing invocation)" in rapture.
Ippen himself rang a hand bell with them.

At his death scene, Ippen told disciples to burn all of his text books of Buddhism.
Also he told them not to found his sect after him.

He haven't built any temples.
He haven't sought any fame for himself.
He just tried to make people happy and ease their suffering.

Nowadays we can see how was the trip of Ippen Shonin in the Ippen hijiri-e (a story book with pictures that Shoukai, Ippen's younger brother and his disciple made with other priests).