Background
圓 仁 Ennin was born into the Mibu family in present-day Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
圓 仁 Ennin was born into the Mibu family in present-day Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
He entered the Buddhist priesthood at Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei (Hieizan) near Kyoto at the age of 14. Becoming a disciple of Saicho, he studied the Tendai doctrine after Saicho died. At the order of Emperor Nimmyo, he crossed over to China (Tang dynasty) to study esoteric Buddhism in 838. Returned to Japan in 847 with 550 books of Buddhist literature and implements for Buddhist rituals.
In 848, he was given the high rank of Daihosshi (great priest) by the Imperial Court. The next year, he built an altar for Buddhist baptism and the Hokkesammai-in Temple on Mt. Hiei. Made chief abbot of the Tendai Sect headquarters in 854 and built an baptismal altar in the Imperial Palace. He wrote more than one hundred book, assisted Saicho and made the Tendai Sect prosperous.