Jianzhen

Jianzhen (Chinese鉴真/鉴真, Pinyin Jiàn Zhen, W.-G. Chien- chen; jap鉴真, Ganjin; * 688, † 763 ) was a Chinese Buddhist priest. At 14 he became a priest in the temple Dayun Si in China. By 742 he taught in the temple Daming Si in Yangzhou.

In that year, the Japanese priest Egg egg sought him (栄 睿; † 749 ) and Fushō (普照; 8th century ), which invited him to Japan. They had been sent by the Japanese Shōmu moved - tennō to search in China by authorized priests who should have the ordination practice of Buddhism and thus the legitimacy and centralization of the Buddhist community ( Skt. sangha ) in Japan. This had to do with the efforts of the imperial family in the Nara period, to bring order into the organization of Buddhism, which became increasingly influence the people and the influential clans.

Since the keel -less Japanese ships were the waves and winds largely delivered, journeys between China and Japan were associated with great risks. After several shipwrecks and other setbacks, the now blind Jianzhen crossed the ocean in the year 753

• He brought with him, among other writings of the Vinaya and the canon of the Tiantai school ( Tiantai Zong ), which were later studied by Saicho, the founder of the Japanese Tendai.
• 754 he established an ordination platform in the Todai Temple ( Todai -ji), which had been founded by Tennō Shōmu moved as a central Buddhist instance Japan. Also Shōmu moved could be ordained by Ganjin a second time. The ordination in the correct tradition was an important issue in Buddhism. On top of that in Japan the government decided how many monks were allowed to be ordained a year.
• In the fifth month of the same year Ganjin founded the " regular school " ( Ritsu Ritsu respectively ). Before founding the Tendai school only this school allowed to perform ordinations. All non- ordained there were officially not as a priest.
• In the fifth month of the year 756, he was General Supervisor of the priests, in the eighth month of the Administrator-General Priest
• 759 he founded Toshodai -ji under the patronage of the Empress Koken
• After his death, his 763 The great teacher or Kakai The great teacher who has crossed the ocean was awarded ( Kakai Daishi ) posthumously the imperial title.
• His life story was written by the Hofgelehrten Omi no Mifune.