Jianzhen (688–763), also known by his Japanese name Ganjin, was a Tang Chinese monk or Silla Korean of Yanju who helped to propagate Buddhism in Japan.

Jianzhen's life story and voyage are described in the scroll, "The Sea Journey to the East of a Great Bonze from the Tang Dynasty.

"[1] Jianzhen was born in Jiangyin county in Guangling Prefecture (present day Yangzhou), China, with the surname of Chunyu (淳于).

[2] Despite protests from his disciples, Jianzhen made preparations and in spring 743 was ready for the long voyage across the East China Sea to Japan.

In the ten years until his death in Japan, Jianzhen not only propagated the Buddhist faith among the aristocracy, but also served as an important conductor of Chinese culture.

Jianzhen is credited with the introduction of the Ritsu school of Buddhism to Japan, which focused on the vinaya, or Buddhist monastic rules.

The statue was temporarily brought to Jianzhen's original temple in Yangzhou in 1980 as part of a long-planned friendship exchange between Japan and China.