Statue of Buddhist Monk Jianzhen
Made in Japan in 763.
Jianzhen (surname Chunyu 688-763)a native of Jiangyang.Guangling (now Yangzhou),was an eminent monk.He entered monastic life at the age of 14 in the Dayun Temple of Yangzhou.Between 707 and 710,he went to Chang’an to study Buddhism and medicine.Returning to Jiangyang,he taught Buddhism at the Xinglong Temple and the Darning Temple.In 743,at the invitation of Japanese monks,he embarked for Japan,but reached there only after11 years,on his 6th attempt.There.he propagated the Buddhism,medicine,architecture.painting,embroidery,calligraphy and music of the High Tang.Because of this influence,he was esteemed as"the Japanese Shennong" and "the Great Teacher from Abroad." (Collection of Shodaiji,Nara,Japan.)