In both China and Jian Zhen, many Japanese researchers and experts in the history of Sino-Japanese relations believe that when Jian Zhen
In both China and Jian Zhen, many Japanese researchers and experts in the history of Sino-Japanese relations believe that when Jian Zhen went from Guangzhou to Shaozhou in the ninth year of Tianbao (750) after the failure of the fifth eastward crossing, he was able to treat his eyes because he was often hot, so he asked for more treatment. (Journey to the West by Tang Dahe begins with a real person). Since then, Jian Zhen, who was blind, went to Japan again with indomitable spirit, fulfilling his ambition to spread the law.
But is Brother Jian Zhen really blind?
Chen Yuan, a famous historian, questioned this matter when he commemorated Jian Zhen's death in 1200 (unpublished at that time). He believes that "Jian Zhen was blind in his later years after he arrived in Japan, and it is not credible to say that Jian Zhen was blind before he arrived in Japan." (For Chen Yuan's query about the blindness of monks in Jian Zhen, see social science front No.4, 1980).
Because, in view of blindness, Biography of the Song Monk. There is no record in Jian Zhen Biography and other books, and only one sentence in the Travel Notes of Tang Dahe East written by Japanese real person Yuan Kai is taken as an isolated evidence, and the argument is not sufficient. Moreover, in the biography of Tang Dahe's eastward expedition, the record of Jian Zhen's life and life in Japan during 10 did not mention that he was unable to move because of his blindness.
In addition, when Jian Zhen came to Jiangning from Shaozhou, his disciple Lingyou could not have said such disrespectful words as "blind turtles open their eyes" in front of the blind teacher, which would be detrimental to Jian Zhen's image. Therefore, people suspect that Jian Zhen is blind.
In Japan, Jian Zhen's deeds are also suspicious in the history book The Continuation of Japan written in the 1980s and 1990s. In May of the 24th year of Tianping Baozi (763), the book said that after Tianbao failed to cross the sea for seven years, Jian Zhen was "crying blind" because of the death of Rong Rui, a Japanese monk accompanying him, and Chen Zhichao, a descendant of Chen Yuan, also expressed doubts about Jian Zhen's blindness.
He believes that it may be credible for Jian Zhen, who is blind, to identify drugs by his nose, but it is reasonable to correct millions of words by memory and doubt whether he is really blind. Japanese scholars Tanaka Jiutang and Ando Kensei believe that the "blurred vision" mentioned in The Journey to the East of Tangdahe means that Jian Zhen suffers from senile cataract.
Kaoru Ando explained that "Ren Hu's words can heal the eyes, so please treat them more". It was Jian Zhen who invited an Arab doctor for acupuncture treatment. Because of postoperative infection, the condition deteriorated, which is called "blindness", but it can still distinguish handwriting. Tanaka believes that Jian Zhen was not completely blind when he arrived in Japan.
These questions and explanations about Jian Zhen's eyes, based on some existing history books, reveal a mystery to us: Was monk Jian Zhen blind after crossing the sea for the fifth time? If you are blind, why are you blind, or are you blind because of "inflammation and blindness on the way"?
(Jian Zhen, Wang Xiangrong) or "Because of years of trekking, I was seriously ill, so that my eyes were blind?" (I heard it was Jian Zhen) or "heatstroke poisoning blindness?" When did you lose your sight? In China or in Japan? To solve this mystery, we must continue to explore the relevant historical materials of China and Japan.
According to Chen Zhichao, there is a "guarantee letter from Jian Zhen" in the Japanese Zhengcang Hospital, which is said to be an IOU from Jian Zhen. The calligraphy on the loan is in Tang style. It is worth noting that the handwriting is neat, there are alterations and rewrites, and the position is exactly the same as the original words.
Is this something that a blind person can do? If this iou is really the original of Jian Zhen, then it can be used as physical evidence that Jian Zhen is not blind.