How a Traveling Indian Monk Changed Japanese History Forever

In the 8th century, a South Indian (Tamil) Buddhist monk named Bodhisena journeyed from Madurai to the Far East in an attempt to locate his spiritual mentor. He arrived in Imperial Nara, Japan and discovered a country on the brink of collapse: wracked by drought and a smallpox epidemic, facing an ongoing debt crisis, and struggling through political turmoil.

Enjoy!

Some commenters have requested additional reading and sources:

"From Outcasts to Emperors: Shingon Ritsu and the Mañjuśrī Cult in Medieval Japan," by David Quinter (pg. 65+ for the transformation of Gyoki's public image as Manjusri)
"A Waka Anthology: Grasses of Remembrance" by Edwin A. Cranston (pg. 434 for the exchange between Gyoki and Bodhisena)
"Japan: Its Architecture, Art and Art Manufactures," by Christopher Dresser (includes discussions on Todaiji temple and its cost)
"Population, Disease, and Land in Early Japan, 645–900" by William Wayne Ferris (includes discussions on the smallpox epidemic and its impacts)
"Japanese Buddhism" by Charles Eliot
"Music from the Tang Court," by Laurence Picken (includes discussions about Hironari's return delegation from China with Bodhisena)

#japanesehistory #japaneseculture #buddhism

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Minor semantic correction: Bodhisena introduced Kegon Buddhism to Japan.