Ancient statue makes second visit to Yangzhou

• Source: Global Times
• [11:39 February 23 2010]
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By Xu Huixian

Statue of Jianzhen

The seated statue of Jianzhen (Ganjin Wajyo) (688-763), a prominent Buddhist monk in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) who famously traveled to Japan, is expected to be exhibited in the Japanese pavilion during the Shanghai 2010 World Expo beginning this May.

The city of Yangzhou Jiangsu Province, Jianzhen’s hometown, previously had the statue in 1980, making this the statue’s second appearance in China.

When Gen Nakagawa, mayor of Nara City visited Yangzhou on February 20, Wang Yanwen, party chief of the Yangzhou municipal government, expressed interest in inviting the ancient Jianzhen statue to Yangzhou after the World Expo ends.

“Yangzhou has a close tie with Japan for its long history,” Wang Yanwen told reporters at the meeting.

“Great master Jianzhen lived in Japan for 10 years.” Li Shun, a researcher in the school of International & Diplomatic Affairs in Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times Monday. “He not only spread knowledge of Buddhism, but also made prominent contributions to Japanese architecture, medicine and art.”

The Japanese envoy invited Jianzhen to spread Buddhism in Japan as early as 742 AD. The following decade witnessed Jianzhen’s failed efforts to sail across the sea five times. He eventually succeeded on the sixth try and landed in Japan in 753, opening a new chapter for Sino-Japan relations.

As the oldest dried lacquer statue in Japan and with a history of approximately 1250 years, Japan views this Jianzhen seated statue as a national treasure. It is only to be shown for 3 days in June each year at the Toshodai-ji Temple in Nara.