Jianzhen

Overview

Jianzhen (688-763 CE), also known as Master of Crossing the Sea, was a renowned Chinese Buddhist monk who played a pivotal role in introducing and establishing Buddhist monastic discipline in Japan. Despite facing numerous challenges, including five failed attempts to travel to Japan and eventual blindness, Jianzhen successfully completed his sixth journey and became instrumental in establishing the Ritsu school of Buddhism in Japan. Beyond his religious contributions, Jianzhen significantly influenced Japanese architecture, art, medicine, and calligraphy, leaving an indelible mark on Japanese cultural development.

History

Jianzhen was born in 688 CE in Jiangyang, Guangling (modern-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province) with the secular surname Chunyu. From a young age, he dedicated himself to Buddhist monastic life and studied extensively throughout China, including in the major Buddhist centers of Luoyang and Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an). He mastered the Buddhist Tripitaka (the three baskets of Buddhist scriptures) and became an expert in monastic discipline (Vinaya).

Upon returning to Yangzhou, Jianzhen taught Buddhist law at Daming Temple. In 742 CE, he accepted an invitation from Japanese monks Rōnin and Shōsō to travel to Japan to spread Buddhist monastic discipline. Despite his acceptance, his first five attempts to sail to Japan were thwarted by government restrictions and shipwrecks during violent storms. During these difficult years, Jianzhen lost his eyesight and witnessed the death of Rōnin.

Undeterred, in 753 CE, Jianzhen made his sixth attempt to reach Japan. Accompanied by his disciples, including monk Faxin, monk Tanjing, nun Zhishou, and layman Pao Xiantong, he successfully landed at Akimeura in Satsuma (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture) at the southern tip of Kyushu in late 753 CE. The following year, he was welcomed to the capital Nara and invited to Todai-ji Temple. There, he administered the Bodhisattva precepts to the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince; gave full monastic ordination to over 440 monks; and reordained over 80 monks who had previously received incomplete ordinations. With these actions, Jianzhen formally established the lineage of Buddhist monastic discipline in Japan.

Key Information

Cultural Significance

Jianzhen is revered as the founding patriarch of the Japanese Ritsu school of Buddhism. His influence extended beyond religious teachings to various aspects of Japanese culture and technology. In architecture and the arts, Jianzhen and his disciples introduced advanced Tang Dynasty techniques. The Tōshōdai-ji temple complex in Nara, established by Jianzhen, stands as a magnificent example of Tang architectural style and is considered the largest and most beautiful structure from Japan's Tempō era.

Prior to his death, disciples created a seated portrait of Jianzhen using the dry lacquer technique (kanshitsu zōkoku), which is now designated a Japanese national treasure. In 1980, this statue was temporarily returned to China for exhibition in Beijing and Yangzhou as a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship.

Jianzhen and his disciples were also accomplished calligraphers who brought authentic works of the Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi father-son duo to Japan, significantly influencing Japanese calligraphy, which remains popular to this day. Additionally, Jianzhen contributed to the correction of Buddhist scriptures in Japan, which had been transmitted orally and copied by hand from Korea, resulting in numerous errors. According to the "Nihon Shoki" (Chronicles of Japan), the Emperor commissioned Jianzhen to correct these texts.

Modern Status

today, Jianzhen is celebrated as a cultural bridge between China and Japan. His legacy is preserved through several historical sites and cultural exchanges. Tōshōdai-ji in Nara continues to function as an active Buddhist temple and attracts visitors from around the world. The story of Jianzhen's perseverance has been adapted into various forms of media, including literature, films, and television dramas, ensuring his story continues to inspire new generations.

In recent decades, academic interest in Jianzhen has grown, with scholars studying his contributions to Buddhist studies, Japanese cultural development, and East Asian religious history. His medical knowledge, which he shared in Japan, has led to his veneration as the patriarch of Japanese medicine and pharmacy. Various industries in Japan, including tofu production, culinary arts, and brewing traditions, trace their origins to knowledge believed to have been transmitted by Jianzhen and his disciples.

References

1. Sen, T. (2006). Dōkyō: The Historical Import of Buddhist Images and Relics in the Mid-Seventh-Century Japanese Embassies to Tang China. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 33(1), 33-70.

2. Tanabe, Z. (1988). Jianzhen and the Tōshōdai-ji. In H. P. Varley (Ed.), Japanese Culture (pp. 67-82). University of Tokyo Press.

3. McMullin, N. (1984). Jianzhen and the Ritsu School in Japan. In P. Groner (Ed.), Japanese Medieval Buddhism: With a Focus on the Tendai School (pp. 45-62). Kuroda Institute.

"Jianzhen's journey to Japan represents one of the most significant cultural exchanges between China and Japan, demonstrating the profound impact of dedicated individuals on religious and cultural development across national boundaries."