Jianzhen da Heshang

In 742 A.D., during the Tang Dynasty, two Japanese monks, Rongrui and Puzhao, travel to the Daming Temple in Yangzhou to meet the renowned Monk Jianzhen. They invite him to Japan to teach Buddhist precepts, hoping to bring the Dharma to their homeland. Jianzhen accepts the mission, determined to spread his knowledge across the sea.

Over the following years, Jianzhen faces five failed attempts to reach Japan. His disciples die, the government obstructs his journey, and he eventually loses his sight. Despite these hardships, his resolve never wavers. He combines Chinese Buddhism with medicine, art, architecture, and literature, preparing to carry this cultural wealth to Japan. His efforts ultimately succeed, introducing precepts that complete the Japanese Vinaya sect and influencing future Buddhist masters.