Various activities took place at Damingsi Temple from Saturday to Monday in Yangzhou, in east China's Jiangsu Province, to celebrate the monk Jianzhen's (688-763) successful arrival in Japan 1,250 years ago.

Thousands of people gathered on Sunday morning under the Qiling Tower of Damingsi Temple for the grand commemoration meeting marking the 1,250th anniversary, including officials, Japanese guests, visitors from different areas, Buddhist monks and Buddhist believers.

"Jianzhen is remembered for his great contribution to friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples," said Ye Xiaowen, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs.

At the same time, a ceremony to lay a foundation stone was held for the Jianzhen Academy, which is planned to be located to the north of the temple.

According to the monk Nengxiu, head of the Damingsi Temple, the academy will be finished in two years, and its task is to cultivate Buddhism internationally.

"I am very happy to know that the academy will teach their students English. With the language ability, Buddhists can easily communicate with foreign people and spread Chinese culture as well as friendship," Ye said.

Jianzhen was born in Yangzhou. He became a Buddhist monk when he was only 14 years old at Dayunsi Temple in the city.

After several years' study at some famous temples and travel to different places, he came back to Yangzhou at the age of 27 and became the head of Damingsi Temple.

In 743, monks from Japan invited Jianzhen to go to give lectures in Japan. From then on, he tried to sail to Japan six times.

Sometimes the officials did not allow him to go to Japan and sometimes his ship was overturned by the huge sea waves.

Thirty-six people died when going with him, including his pupils. And he lost his eyesight during his fifth trip.

Jianzhen did not succeed until 753, when he finally reached Japan. He lived there for 10 years, lecturing to Japanese monks and passing on various kinds of knowledge to Japanese people, including Chinese architecture, medicine, literature, painting, music, printing and cuisine.

(China Daily November 4, 2003)