Toshodaiji Temple: Master Jianzhen’s Journey to Japan

JAPAN, Nara; Kamakura period

These five scrolls depict the life story of Master Jianzhen. They measure 37.3 cm high and range from 1,499.9 cm to 1,979.6 cm long. Inscriptions on some of the scrolls state that they were painted by Japanese artist Rengyo. The names of the figures painted in each scroll are also recorded. The scrolls were given to Toshodaiji Temple in Nara by the abbot of Gokurakuji Temple in Kamukara in 1298. They were listed as Important Cultural Properties in 1900.
The story of Jianzhen’s journey to the east was recorded in a book by Mahito Genkai in 779 of the Nara period. It begins with Jianzhen’s early life, including his renunciation at Dayun Temple in Yangzhou, his studies at temples in Chang’an and Luoyang, and his teaching of the Dharma at Daming Temple. In 742 of the Tang dynasty, Jianzhen accepted an invitation by the Japanese monks Eiei and Fusho to journey to the east and spread the Dharma. He set off on the arduous sea voyage from China to Japan, but his many attempts at the crossing failed. In 753, as a passenger on the ship of an envoy returning home, he managed to reach Japan successfully. He was received with great reverence, and eventually established an ordination hall in Nara.
The first section of Scroll 1 depicts the young Jianzhen visiting Dayun Temple in Yangzhou with his father. The magnificent face of the Buddha leaves a deep impression on him; Jianzhen renounces and becomes the disciple of Chan Master Zhiman.
In the first section of the Scroll 2, Jianzhen’s ship is shown sinking in a violent storm. Sailors struggle to survive in the raging sea. Passengers and cargo wash up on shore on the left. Jianzhen himself floats on a grass mat above the waves. Another section of the Scroll 2 depicts Jianzhen and his followers making a second attempt at the crossing. The Japanese monks Eiei and Fusho sit on a platform in the middle of the ship, praying for everyone’s safety.
Scroll 4 shows Fujiwara Kiyokawa, the Japanese envoy to the Tang court, sailing on the ship that would later bring Jianzhen to Japan. In the seventh section of the Scroll 5, Jianzhen is depicted sitting in full lotus position facing the west, preparing to pass away. He surrounded by a group of anxious disciples.
The buildings and ships are depicted in great detail. Flowing lines are used to illustrate the stormy sea; the crests of some of the waves are highlighted with white. The scrolls vividly convey the danger and difficulty that Jianzhen overcame to spread the Dharma.