Background
Ganjin was born in 688 in the Chinese county of Jiangyin in Guangling (Yangzhou, Jiangsu).
Ganjin was born in 688 in the Chinese county of Jiangyin in Guangling (Yangzhou, Jiangsu).
At the age of 14 Ganjin entered the Buddhist temple of Daming. He studied at Chang’an (Ch’ang-an) for six years, starting at the age of 20.
In 742, Ganjin met two Japanese priests, Eiei and Fusho who prevailed upon him to come to Japan. He made five attempts to come but each time was thwarted due to storms. The crossing from China to Japan across the East China Sea was really dangerous. In between this waiting Ganjin became blind but finally in 753 he arrived in Japan along with 20 disciples. In 755, by Imperial order the Buddhist priest was allowed to stay at Todaiji Temple and was treated well. The following year he set up an ordination platform at the temple and initiated Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo and 440 countries into the precepts of Buddhism. This was the first such perception in Japan. Later he founded the Toshodaiji Temple (Nara Prefecture) and wrote three religious volumes though blind.
In 756 Ganjin was appointed to the bureau of clergy, which controlled the issuing of certificates for ordination. The Japanese viewed protecting the nation as part of the clergy’s mission. The Japanese government expected the priests to work in support of the nation’s prosperity. The fact that Ganjin, who was Chinese, was appointed to the bureau speaks volumes about his skill and the level of his understanding of the Buddhist religion. Ganjin resigned from the bureau in 758 and returned to training priests. Ganjin continued to teach up until his death on June 22, 763.