Synopsis
In 742 AD, during the Xuantianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, the Japanese monks Rongrui and Puzhao traveled to Daming Temple in Yangzhou to request that the esteemed Monk Jianzhen come to Japan to spread Buddhist teachings. Despite enduring numerous hardships—the loss of his disciples, obstruction from authorities, and eventually his own blindness—Jianzhen never wavered in his determination to bring Buddhism to Japan. After five failed attempts, he succeeded in transmitting the depth of Chinese Buddhism, along with other elements of Chinese culture such as medicine, art, architecture, and literature, to Japan. By founding the Vinaya school in Japan, Jianzhen paved the way for influential figures like Kukairen of the Shingon school and Master Saicheng of the Tendai school, ushering in a golden age of Buddhism during the Heian and Ikura periods. The cultural artifacts and knowledge he introduced left a lasting imprint on Japanese society, bequeathing a precious legacy of Tang culture. For these achievements, Monk Jianzhen is revered in Japan as a "giant of balanced culture." This animated film aims to share the extraordinary story of this pivotal figure with a broader audience.
Background
Jianzhen (or Ganjin) (鑒真, Chinese: Chien-chen; 688–763) was a Chinese monk who helped to propagate Buddhism in Japan. In the eleven years from 743 to 754, Jianzhen attempted to visit Japan some six times. Ganjin finally came to Japan in the year 754 and founded Tōshōdai-ji in Nara. When he finally succeeded on his sixth attempt he had lost his eyesight as a result of his hardship.