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.