Japanese Pilgrims

Years of Journey	Names	Names in Kanji	Places of Study	Chinese Masters
600	1st Kensuishi
607	2^nd Kensuishi[1]
653	Dōshō(638-700)	道昭[2]	Chang’an	Xuanzang
653	Jōe(644-714)	定慧
658	Chitsū (d.u.)	智達[3]	Chang’an	Xuanzang
658	Chitatsu (d.u.)	智通	Chang’an	Xuanzang, Kuiji
716-735	Gembō(?-746)	玄昉[4]	Chang’an	Zhizhou
726 or 733	Eiei[5]	榮叡	Chang’an	Vinaya master
726 or 733	Fushō	普照	Chang’an	Vinaya master
804-806	Kukai	空海	Chang’an	Huiguo[6]
804-805	Saichō(767-822)	最澄	Mt. Tiantai
804-?	Gishin(781-833)	義真[7]	Mt. Tiantai
836	Shinzei(800-860)	真濟[8]
836	Shinnen(804-891)	真然[9]
838-848	Ennin(794-864)	圓仁[10]	Yangzhou, Mt. Wutai, Chang’an
838-839	Jōkyō	常曉	Yangzhou
838-877	Ensai	圓載[11]	Yangzhou
838-839	Engyō	圓行	Yangzhou
840	Engaku	圓覺	Wutai
853-858	Enchin	圓珍	Chang’an, Tiantai	Qinglong si,[12] Guoqing si
862-864	Shinnyo	真如[13]	Mingzhou, Chang’an, Guanzhou
862-866?	Shūei(809-884)	宗叡[14]	Chang’an
984-986	Chōnen (d.1016)	奝然[15]	Kaifeng
988	?	嘉因[16]
1003-1005	Jakushō (d.1034)	寂照[17]	Mingzhou, Wutai,	Yanqing Temple
1072-1081	Jōjin	成尋[18]	Tiantai, Wutai,
1167-1168	Chōgen	重源	Tiantai
1168	Myōan Eisai	明庵榮西[19]	Tiantai
1172	Kaku-A	覺阿	Hangzhou,Nanjing	Visited Huiyuan(1103-76)[20]
1187-1191	Eisai	榮西	Hangzhou, Tiantai	Studied under Xuan Huaichang
1189	Two Nōnin’s disciples[21]		Hangzhou	Studied with Deguang[22]
1199-1211	Shunjō	葰仍	Hangzhou,Mingzhou, Beijing	Studied with Yuancong at Jingshan; later Mt. Tiantong
1214-1228	Jōgō	淨業
1223-1227	Dōgen	道元	Mingzhou	Studied with Wuji Liaopai and Tiantong Rujing at Mt. Tiantong
1233-1241	Jōgō	淨業[23]
1223	Shūen	宗圓
1235-1238	Eison	榮尊	Hangzhou	Studied with Wuzhun Shifan (1177-1249)
1235-1241	Enni Ben’en	圓爾辨圓	Hangzhou	Studied with Wuzhun Shifan
1235	Dōyū	道祐	Hangzhou	Studied with Wuzhun Shifan
1243		一翁院豪	Hangzhou	Studied with Wuzhun Shifan
1243-1254 (1253?-56?)		寒巖義尹
1244		湛海	Taishan泰山	Bailian Temple
1249-1254	Shinchi Kakushin	心地覺心	Zhejiang,Hangzhou, Mingzhou	Mt. Putuo, Jingshan, Mt. Ayuwang, studied with Wumen Huikai at Huguo Temple
1251-1262		普門	Hangzhou	Linyin Temple
1252-1265	Jōshō	靜照	Hangzhou	Jingshan,Tiantai
1255		湛海[24]
1255		惟遷		Bieshan Zuzhi
1258-1268	Eun	慧雲	Hangzhou
1259-1262	Tettsū Gikai(1219-1309)	徹通義介[25]	Mingzhou	Mt. Tiantong
1259-1267	Nanpo Jōmin	南浦紹明	Hangzhou	Studied with Xutang Zhiyu (1185-1269) at Jingshan
1259	Shinshō	真照		Studied vinaya
1262		順空	Hangzhou	Jingshan
1264	Zennin	禪忍[26]
1266	Ekyō	惠曉		Visited Shaotan[27]
1264		義尹[28]
1296	En’ei	圓慧
1305	Tokuken?	德見	Mingzhou
1307-1329		雪村友梅
1310-1326	Muin Genkai(d.1358)	無隱元晦	Hangzhou	Mt. Tianmu; studied under the monk Zhongfeng Mingben (1263-1323)
1310	Fukan Sōko	復菴宗己[29]	Hangzhou	Mt. Tianmu
1311	Kakumyō?	覺明
1314-1324	Daichi	大智
1317		如春[30]
1317-1326	Shūnen	宗然
1317		智演
1317		澄圓
1318-1326	Kōsen Ingen	古先印元[31]	Hangzhou	Mt. Tianmu
1320-1329		可什[32]
1322-1329		道皎
1323		景印
1325		圓月
1326		契聞
1326		慧廣[33]
1327		邵元
1328		士偲
1340-1351		周及
1342-1351	Leiken	靈見
1344-1358	Sonō	祖能[34]
1343		無文元選		Ordained by Wuyou of Dajuesi in Fuzhou
1348-1357		省吾
1350		海壽		Studied under Qiliao[35]
1362		令儀		Entered Yuan via Fujian
1363		省吾[36]
1374		原要		Stayed at the Datianjie大天界 Temple
1376		絕海中津	Nanjing	Visited Emperor Taizu
1467-1469		雪舟[37]
1467-1469		秋月
1467-		桂菴玄樹
1539-1541	Shūryō	周良	Beijing	Visited Emperor Shizong
1546		清梁[38]
1547-1548	Shūryō	周良[39]	Beijing
1548		昌虎[40]	Beijing

[1] Prince Shōtoku dispatched this official embassy. Dozens of Buddhist monks came along with this mission.

[2] Went to China along with Kentōshi and thirteen other monks, including Jōe. After returning Japan, he transmitted the Hossō school of Buddhism, which was the first time the school was transmitted to Japan.

[3] Went to China with Chitatsu and transmitted the Hossō school of Buddhism after returning to Japan—the second transmission of the school.

[4] Went to China along with Kentoshi. Transmitted Hossō school of Buddhism fourth time after returning Japan. The third time was done by a Korean monk known in Japan as Chihō. Among the young students in the Kentoshi mission was Kibi no Mabi. He also returned to Japan in 735.

[5] He and Fushō studied vinaya in Chang’an, where they asked Daoxuan (702-760) and Jianzhen (Ganjin), both were renowned vinaya masters, to spread vinaya in Japan. Daoxuan went to Japan in 736, transmitting Kegon and Vinaya (2^nd transmission), whereas Ganjin. did not make it to Japan until 753, after five unsuccessful attempts

[6] Huiguo was a prominent master in the Qinglong temple, which was the center of Tantric Buddhism.

[7] Saichō’s disciple.

[8] Attempt to reach China was prevented by shipwreck.

[9] Also failed in his attempt to visit China because of shipwreck.

[10] Came to China with a group of kentōshi—the last embassy from Japan to embark for Tang China--sent from Hakata. Studied Tiantai Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism in Mt. Wutai and the Vajradhātu Garbhakośa, and Susidhi practices in Chang’an.

[11] Unable to return to Japan at the time he had planned to and drowned on his way back to Japan much later.

[12] Here, he received instruction in the Vajradhātu, Garbhakośadhātu, and Susiddhi practices.

[13] Came to China with fifteen other monks, including Shūei. After traveling to various places in China, he, Engaku, and other monks went to India.

[14] Spent three years in China, probably studying Tantrism, before returning to Japan. Did not join Shinnyo and other monks in their pilgrimage to India.

[15] Tōdaiji monk who returned from Song with the Shaka (Sakyamuni) image that was influence all Shaka images throughout the country. This image, which was housed in the Shaka-dō of the Shōryōji temple清涼寺, was believed to have been transmitted from India to China.

[16] Chōnen’s disciple, who was sent to Song, along with a group of Song monks led by Qiqian.

[17] Brought Genshin’s twenty seven questions regarding Tiandai Buddhism to ask Zhili, the most celebrated Tiantai monk in early Northern Song China. He seems to have traveled to Song again and died in Hangzhou.

[18] A senior monk at Tōji before he came to China. Died in Kaifeng after a nine-year pilgrimage.

[19] Met Chōgen in Mingzhou. Together they visited Tiantai. Eisai returned to Japan five months later.

[20] A prominent Chan master who was abbot of the Lingyin Temple at this time.

[21] Dainichibō Nōnin 大日房能忍sent two disciples to China to study under.

[22] A prominent Linji master of the Dahui school.

[23] His second visit.

[24] His second visit.

[25] A disciple of Dōgen and founder of Daijōji大乘寺. Sent to China to make plans of major Chinese monasteries to be used in the completion of Eiheiji in Echizen.

[26] Brought to Song the manuscript of Lanxi Daolong’s “Recorded Sayings” for publication.

[27] Identity of this monk is not clear.

[28] His second journey to Song. This time he presented Dōgen’s recorded sayings, Eihei kōroku永平廣錄 to Yiyuan 義遠, whose identity is not clear .

[29] After returning to Japan, he became the leader of the Rinzai Genjū-ha.

[30] Came with a group of monks. Returned to Japan with two Chinese monks, including Zhuxian Fanxian (1292-1348), who became prominent in the Kamakura Japan.

[31] Followed by three other monks.

[32] Came with three other monks.

[33] His second journey to Yuan.

[34] Came to Yuan with dozens of monks via Fuzhou.

[35] Identity of this monk is not clear.

[36] His second journey to Yuan.

[37] Came with Kenmyōshi and a group of monks, including 秋月 and 桂菴玄樹

[38] Came with a group of monks.

[39] His second journey to the Yuan. This time he came as a kokushi sō國使僧, emissary monk.

[40] Came as a kokushi sō