Nianfo

The Nianfo (Chinese: 念佛; pinyin: niànfó), alternatively in Japanese as 念仏 (ねんぶつ, nenbutsu), Korean: 염불; RR: yeombul, or in Vietnamese: niệm Phật, is a Buddhist practice central to the East Asian Buddhist tradition of Pure Land Buddhism, though not exclusive to it. In the context of East Asian Pure Land practice, the term nianfo typically refers to the oral repetition of the name of Amitābha through the phrase "Homage to Amitabha Buddha" (Ch: 南無阿彌陀佛, Mandarin: Nāmó Ēmítuófó, Jp: Namu Amida Butsu; from the Sanskrit: Namo'mitābhāya Buddhāya). However, in some contexts, the term nianfo can also refer to other meditative practices, such as various visualizations or the recitations of other phrases or mantras.

The Chinese term nianfo is a translation of Sanskrit buddhānusmṛti (or "recollection of the Buddha"), which is a classic Buddhist mindfulness (smṛti) practice.^[1]