The life of monks in Jian Zhen

Jian Zhen who traveled across the sea to preach the precepts.

Jian Zhen was born in Jiangyang County, Yangzhou (now Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province). Tang Zhongzong was born into a Buddhist family in the fifth year of his reign (688). My father became a monk from Dayun Temple in Yangzhou and studied Zen. When Jian Zhen 14 years old, he visited the temple with his father. When he saw the tall and kind Buddha statue, he was very moved and asked his father to let him become a monk. Seeing that he was young and ambitious, his father agreed to his request. In this year, Wu Zetian wrote a letter to all states in the world to become a monk, so Jian Zhen became a monk and became a young monk in Dayun Temple. In 705, in the first year of Zhongzong Shenlong, a bodhisattva under the famous lawyer Daoan became a monk. In the first year of Jinglong (707), he studied in Luoyang, the capital of East China, and Chang 'an, Xijing. On March 28th of the following year, he was ordained in the actual temple in Chang 'an, presided over by Hongjing, a respected lawyer of Nanquan Temple in Jingzhou.

Daoan, a Buddhist teacher in Jian Zhen, and Hongjing, a foot teacher, are both famous legalists. In particular, Daoan vigorously promoted the Nanshan method initiated by Daoxuan in Jianghuai area, and eventually changed the Jianghuai area, which has been pursuing the ten-reading method, to the four-division method. He presided over the ceremony of closing the altar many times and was called the master of the ceremony in more than 400 countries around the world. Under the influence of these famous eminent legal monks, Jian Zhen devoted himself to the study of Sanzang, especially the legal discussion. After receiving the full precepts, he officially became a monk and was qualified to impart knowledge. After several years of painstaking research, he was proficient in four legal works, such as preaching, filling in the gaps, making banknotes, writing calligraphy, prospering Chu's light and heavy instruments, and establishing four legal books. He began to teach legal books in the first year of Kaiyuan (7 13) at the age of 26.

Soon after, he returned to Huainan. After the death of Daoan lawyer in the fifth year of Kaiyuan (7 17), Jian Zhen took over the burden left by his teacher, continued to spread law in Jianghuai area, made an altar to teach precepts, spared no effort to rectify cults and promote Buddhism. In the past 30 years, he has explained the law 40 times, released money 70 times, and released light and heavy instruments and karma 10 times. He also organized and launched the temple building, statue building and the opening ceremony to support ten monks, sewed 3,000 cassocks and presented them to Wutai Mountain monks, and copied three volumes of all the classics, each with 1 1000 copies. He was ordained by more than 40 thousand people, and all the preceptors in Jianghuai respected him as a preceptor.

Jian Zhen's fame spread far and wide, and it also reached the ears of Rong Rui, a Japanese monk studying in Chang 'an. At that time, Japan was still in the slave society stage, with sharp class contradictions and poor people's lives. Monastery enjoys the privilege of exemption from taxes and services. People who can't bear the blackmail of the ruling class have fled into monasteries, or quit their monasteries, and even took refuge in monasteries with their own property. In this way, the power of the temple continues to expand, and the exploitation interests of secular slave owners are damaged. The imperial court, which represents the interests of secular slave owners, is eager to rectify cults and eliminate monks and nuns, but government decrees have been issued repeatedly, with little effect. So some people proposed to learn from China, and the conditions and procedures for strict discipline were immediately approved by the court, and they decided to send people to the Tang Dynasty to recruit monks to preach the precepts. Rong Rui and Pu Zhao shoulder the mission of conscription. In the fifth year of Tian Ping in Japan (that is, in the 21st year of Tang Kaiyuan (733)), he sent envoys of the Tang Dynasty to study in Tang for the tenth time.

While studying in Chang 'an, Rong Rui and Pu Zhao are looking for suitable candidates. At first, they invited Du Dongda's lawyer Dao Zhuo and Brahmin monk Bodhi to go to Japan to preach with an envoy of the Tang Dynasty. Later, when I heard Jian Zhen's name and thought he was a more ideal missionary, I decided to try to invite Jian Zhen to Japan to preach the precepts. In the first year of Tianbao (742), they invited ankokuji monks from Chang 'an, Deqing monks from Luoyang, Ruhai monks from North Korea, and Xuan Lang and Fa Xuan, Japanese monks studying in China, to Yangzhou in advance. At that time, Jian Zhen was giving lectures to monks in daming temple, Yangzhou. Rong Rui and Pu Zhao went to daming temple to pay homage to Jian Zhen, the purpose of which was to say, "Buddhism has spread eastward to Japan, and there are temples and monks, but there are no people who preach Buddhism and receive precepts. There was a Japanese prophecy in our country:' In 200 years, sacred religion will flourish in Shoto Kutaishi.' Now the deadline of 200 years has come, and I hope monks will travel to Xinghua. After listening to the statements of the two monks, Jian Zhen felt that they were very sincere, so he replied, "I once heard that when Zen master Huisi of Nanyue moved, he was reincarnated as a Japanese prince, prospering Buddhism and helping all beings. I also heard that Prince Nagaya respected Buddhism and made a thousand-collar cassock to show the country's virtue and monks. There are four words embroidered on the edge of its cassock:' The mountains and rivers are exotic, the sun and the moon are in the same sky, the buddhas send them, and they are tied together.' It seems that Japan is indeed a country where Buddhism thrives and destiny belongs. So, who among my followers would like to go to Japan to teach the commandments? "All the monks in the class, for the monk's question, all don't know how to answer is good, and at that time fell silent. After a long time, Jian Zhen's disciple Xiang Yan broke the silence and replied, "Other countries are too far away, and life is hard to survive. The sea is vast and boundless, and there is nothing. Individuals are rare, and China is hard to live; You are not ready for further study, but you have not arrived yet. To this end, all monks are silent. Jian Zhen was very angry and said bluntly, "We're here to preach Dafa. Why don't you spare our lives? If you don't go, I'll go by myself! " Xiang Yan said quickly, "If the master wants to go, I will go with him. "As a result, 2 1 monks such as Daoxing, Daoxing, Ruhai, Chengguan, Deqing and Situo also expressed their willingness to go to Japan with Jian Zhen.

When Jian Zhen saw that many disciples were willing to follow him to Japan to preach the Dharma, he turned anger into joy, so * * * spoke out in front of the Buddha statue to discuss the strategies and steps for preparing for the eastward crossing. In view of the strict coastal defense of the imperial court, they decided not to disclose the purpose of crossing the sea for the time being, claiming that it was to provide supplies for the monks of the National Assembly Temple in Tiantai Mountain. Under this guise, they stepped up the construction of ships and prepared dry food. He said that when he was in Chang 'an, he was asked by the Prime Minister Li Zhidi to cooperate with Cao's nephew Li Cuo, who worked as a warehouse in Yangzhou, in shipbuilding. So the shipbuilding work was supported by Li CuO and went smoothly.

In the second year of Tianbao (743), pirates were rampant in the southeast coast, and the waters around Taizhou (now Zhejiang Linhai, Huangyan, Wenling, Xianju, Tiantai, Ninghai, Xiangshan and other counties), Wenzhou (now Zhejiang Wenzhou and Yongjia, Yueqing, Ruian, Pingyang, Wencheng, Taishun and other counties) and Mingzhou (now Zhejiang Yongjiang River Basin and Cixi, Zhoushan Islands and other places). In this situation, the trend of Jian Zhen and his party is particularly noticeable. In order to reduce resistance and avoid misunderstanding, they need to strengthen unity and unify their thoughts and actions. To this end, Daoxing put forward: "Today, when you go to other countries to preach the law, everyone respects it and the industry is eliminated. If Hai and others don't learn Taoism for a long time, can they stay in China for the time being and don't plan their trip? "

When Ruhai heard Daoxing's words, he immediately wrapped his head in the state. When he received the order, the yamen falsely accused him: "Some monk Daoxing built a boat into the sea and colluded with pirates. A total of * * * people prepared dry food, distributed in Jiji, Kaiyuan and daming temple, and 100 pirates entered the city. " This interview led the newspaper to send troops to search for Jian Zhen and his party. After interrogation, it was proved that Jian Zhen and others were innocent, but the ship they built was confiscated, Japanese monks were imprisoned for four months, and they were ordered to return to their own country. Xuan Lang and Fa Xuan returned to China, but Rong Rui and Zhao Pu didn't want to be sent by the government, so they stayed. For example, for the crime of false accusation by Hein, he was beheaded and returned to the customs, and he was sentenced to 60 sticks and returned to Silla. But the plan to go to the East for the first time was destroyed by him after all.

Rong Rui and Pu Zhao, two monks, made up their minds. After this ordeal, they were not discouraged. They found Jian Zhen and discussed going to the East again. Jian Zhen comforted them and said, "Don't worry. When the time is right, you will get what you want. " And took out a good official currency, 80 yuan, bought a warship for Liu Julian's interview on Lingnan Road, hired 18 sailors, bought all kinds of food, utensils, scrolls, Buddha statues, artifacts, spices and clothes, prepared enough money and silks, and carried monks Xiang Yan, Daoxing, Deqing and Stowe, together with Rong Rui * * * 65438. But as soon as the ship left the Yangtze River estuary, it was cut off by the hurricane and had to go ashore to repair the ship. A month later, it crossed the east for the third time. Due to the dangerous wind and waves during the voyage, the navigation channel was dangerous and the ship broke down. It went through all kinds of hardships and drifted to Mingzhou, where it was placed in the Asoka Temple in Jixian County (now Ningbo, Zhejiang Province) to rest.

In the third year of Tianbao, Jian Zhen toured to give lectures and be ordained at the request of monks from Yuezhou (which governs the Puyang River Basin in Zhejiang, Caoejiang River Basin and most areas of Yuyao County, now Shaoxing), Hangzhou, Huzhou (now Xing Wu, Zhejiang) and Xuanzhou (now Xuancheng, Anhui), and finally went to Ayuwang Temple in Jixian County. Monks in Yuezhou learned that Jian Zhen wanted to go back to his motherland in the past. In order to keep Jian Zhen, they reported to the state officials: "Japanese monk Rong Rui used to lure Yamato back to his motherland." As a result, Rong Rui was arrested again and sent to the capital by machine. When passing through Hangzhou, he pretended to be ill and died, so he had to get away.

Rong Rui and Pu Zhao experienced indescribable hardships in seeking Buddhism, but they made up their minds and had no regrets. Jian Zhen was deeply moved, and he was determined to realize his wish to spread the precepts in the East. Therefore, monk Fajin and two entourage were sent to Fuzhou to buy boats with money and silks, purchase food and sundries, and prepare for the fourth eastward crossing. He personally led more than 30 people, including Xiang Yan, Rong Rui, Zhao Pu and Stuart, to cross mountains and set out for Fuzhou by land. However, in Shifeng County, Taizhou, he was chased by the interviewer from Jiangdong Road and escorted back to Yangzhou. It turned out that Jian Zhen's disciple You Ling and some other monks were worried about the accident when Jian Zhen crossed the sea, and reported the movements of Jian Zhen and his party to the government with official documents, so the plan to cross the sea to the east was aborted again.

In the spring of the seventh year of Tianbao, two monks, Rong Rui and Zhao Pu, came to Yangzhou from Anhui, and planned to cross the east with Jian Zhen for the fifth time. The entourage 14 and sailors 18 of this trip to the east, including Xiang Yan, Shenlun, Yan Guang, Deqing, Rong Rui, Zhao Pu and Stowe. On June 27th, they set out from Chongfu Temple in Yangzhou and went south to the sea via Guazhou Canal. There was a lot of wind and waves along the way, and there was no water and no rice, so it was a narrow escape. When it drifted to the border of Zhou Zhen (now Yaxian County), it landed. In this way, the fifth voyage failed again. With the support of local officials, Jian Zhen and others did some Buddhist activities in various places and were sent back to Yangzhou. On the way home, Rong Rui, a Japanese monk, and Xiang Yan, a high-legged disciple of Jian Zhen, died one after another, and Jian Zhen's spirit suffered a great blow. In addition, he can't adapt to the hot climate in Hainan, suffering from eye diseases, and his vision is greatly damaged.

In the 12th year of Tianbao (753), on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, Japanese special envoy Qing He, assistant ambassador You Kun, and Ma Lu Abe, who had studied in China for many years and served as secretary supervisor and China Wei, visited Yangzhou Temple. They told Jian Zhen that the Japanese envoy to the Tang Dynasty had formally invited Jian Zhen to preach in Japan, but Xuanzong refused. In view of this situation, please ask Jian Zhen to decide whether to sail to Japan with the ships that sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty. At this time, Jian Zhen is 66 years old, and his eyes are not good. But in the Tang Dynasty, the government banned him from going abroad privately. However, he insisted on the original intention of crossing the sea to preach the law, overcame all difficulties, and readily promised to go to Japan with Tang envoys. After some arrangements, monk Jian Zhen finally left longxing temple on 10 19 and embarked on his sixth journey. 1 1 month 16, he boarded a ship sent by Japan as an assistant envoy of the Tang Dynasty and sailed from the Yangtze River estuary to Japan. Jian Zhen's entourage consisted of 65,438+04 disciples, including three monks, including Shi Tuo and Zhi Shou, as well as a number of laymen, including Pan Xiantong of Yangzhou, An Rubao of the Western Regions, mana of the Southeast Asian People's Army, and Vietnamese who were good at listening, totaling 24 people. In addition to all kinds of Buddha statues, bodhisattvas, relics, scriptures, laws and flags, there are also all kinds of golden utensils, decorations and copybooks of famous calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi.

1On February 20th, Jian Zhen's ship arrived in Akimupu, Kagoshima, and officially set foot on the land of Jian Zhen, realizing the wish of 12 years. On February 4th of the following year, Jian Zhen passed through Japan's Dazai Prefecture and Osaka and arrived in Nara, then the capital of Japan. Wherever he went, he was warmly welcomed and received by the rulers and the common people. In Nara, he was welcomed into Dongda Temple and placed. The Japanese king sent a message to comfort Jian Zhen, and awarded Jian Zhen the position of exorcist, announcing that "from now on, he will be given the precept to preach the law and become a monk."

In April of the same year, Jian Zhen first set up an altar in front of the Lushena Temple in Dongda Temple, and went to the altar to present Buddha rings to Japanese Emperor Wu Sheng, Empress Dowager Guangming and Kejsarinnan Koken. Soon, he was consecrated by more than 400 people, including Misha Chengxiu. More than 80 people, including Fu Ling, who had been ordained, also gave up the old precepts and re-ordained from Jian Zhen. In September of this year, Tan Jie Hospital of Dongda Temple was established, with Jian Zhen as a monk and anklets for all monks.

In May of the following year, the Japanese court designated Jian Zhen as the capital of big monks, stipulating that Japanese monks would not be recognized unless they were consecrated. However, contradictions soon appeared among Japanese rulers. It turned out that the supreme Japanese ruler respected Jian Zhen for the purpose of directly controlling monks and nuns through him, while the guiding ideology of Jian Zhen's missionary work was to spread Buddhism more widely. Therefore, shortly after Emperor Shengwu's death, the Japanese court pardoned him as the capital of Jianzhen, and honored him as the Great Monk. From then on, Jian Zhen got rid of all the administrative affairs of monks and devoted himself to educating monks and nuns. In order to get rid of the interference, he took advantage of the countryside given to him by the Japanese court to set up a Tang Law School, and moved here from Dongda Temple to spread the law and take a message. Under the bleak management of him and his disciples Stowe and Rubao, Zhao Ti in the Tang Dynasty was later regarded as an official temple and became the ancestral temple of the Japanese-French school. Jian Zhen himself became the founder of Japanese Legalists.

Jian Zhen not only founded the Nanshan Method in Japan, but also made great contributions to the establishment of Tiantai Sect and Tantric Sect, two major schools of Japanese Buddhism in the future. Many of the classics he took with him when he crossed eastward belonged to Tiantai and Yanzhen. The founder of Tiantai Sect in Japan is the clearest. The founder of Tantric Sect, Hongfa, suffered the legacy of Jian Zhen when he was young, and they continued to cherish this legacy in their later memory.

Jian Zhen also made outstanding contributions to the collation of Japanese Buddhist scriptures. Before the arrival of Jian Zhen, the classics used in Japanese temples were all imported from the Korean peninsula, but only passed down orally, so there were many differences and mistakes between them. After Jian Zhen and his party arrived, the Japanese government gave them the task of correcting classic mistakes. Thanks to the hard work of Jian Zhen and his disciples, most of these classics have been revised.

In addition, Jian Zhen has greatly promoted the development of Japanese medicine, calligraphy, architecture, sculpture and fine arts. Legend has it that he used the method of sniffing nose to identify the medicines in Zhengcang Hospital one by one and explain their uses. He wrote The Secret Recipe of Sword Master, which was handed down from generation to generation. Before the edo period, Japanese drug dealers always regarded him as the ancestor of medicine. Jian Zhen's authentic two-king calligraphy stickers brought to Japan and his disciples who can write beautiful Wang Ti calligraphy have a lot to do with Wang Shu's popularity in Japanese calligraphy in the future. Jian Zhen's dry lacquer figurines and Zhao Ti Temple's Tang Dynasty woodcarving were both completed under the guidance of his disciples and technicians, which can be said to be the starting point in the history of Japanese sculpture. The architecture of Zhao Ti Temple in Tang Dynasty and the stupa of Xiwei Temple designed by his disciples are worthy of being written into the history of Japanese architecture. Modern Japanese scholars praise Jian Zhen as a person who stands at the highest peak of Nara culture and paves the way for a future culture of peace, which is appropriate. In the seventh year of Tian Ping Baozong (in 763, the first year of Tang Guangde), on May 6th, Jian Zhen got married and died peacefully in Tang Zhao Ti Temple at the age of 76. His life has made important contributions to the friendship and cultural exchanges between the Chinese and Japanese peoples. He traveled to the East for lofty ideals, and his perseverance will always be a valuable asset of Japanese traditional culture.