Background
The date and place of his birth are unknown. His family name was Ato.He died around 746.
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- Gembō
Edit ProfileEducation
Gembō studied Buddhism under Gien. He went to China (Tang Dynasty) at the command of Empress regnant Gensho to study the Hossō sect doctrine and stayed there for 20 years. In 735, Gembō returned to Japan, bringing images of the Buddha as well as sutras, Buddhist treatises, and commentaries totaling more than five thousand volumes.
Career
He preached at the Kofukuji Temple in Nara. Later he was made a bishop and was granted by the Court a purple robe, a symbol of the highest ranking priest. He was the first priest to be thus honored. Although Gembō was a favorite with the Imperial Court, in 745 he was demoted and sent to Kyushu, where he became the chief priest of the Kannonji Temple. The sutras he had brought from China were preserved at the Kofukuji Temple by order of Emperor Shomu.
Personality
According to legend, Gembō leaped some ten feet as if he were ascending to heaven, then fell to the ground, died and disappeared without leaving any trace of his physical body. The mysterious death occurred when he entered the Kannonji Temple one day.
