Chisho Daishi Enchin (814–891)

Chisho Daishi Enchin was a high-ranking priest of the Tendai Sect in the early Heian Period. He was one of the eight Japanese monks who visited Tang China and the restorer of Onjoji (Miidera) Temple. He is also revered as the founder of the Tendai Jimon Sect.

Enchin was born in 814 in Naka County, Sanuki Province (now Kagawa Prefecture). His secular family name was Wake. His mother’s maiden name was Saeki, and she was a niece of Kukai. At the age of 15, he followed his uncle and went to Mt. Hiei to become a disciple of Gishin, the then head priest of the Tendai Sect, and received religious precepts at the age of 20. He practiced ascetic training in the mountain for 12 years. It originated from the 12-year ascetic training practiced by the founder of Enryakuji Temple, Saicho, when he was young. It was a tough ascetic training that monks are required to spend 12 years of seclusion in the mountain to devote themselves to their studies of Buddhist teachings. In winter 838, during his seclusion in the mountain, Enchin finally sensed the Yellow Fudo Myo-o while he was sitting in meditation while confining himself in a rock cave.

Later, Enchin was appointed as the head of Shingon study in Enryakuji Temple, and afterward Naigubu-juzenji (one of the position of monks who is in charge of praying for peace for the emperor in the palace). He then went to Tang China in 851 with the great help of Fujiwara no Yoshifusa who was later promoted to a regent for the first time from the vassal position. Enchin visited temples in the Tang Dynasty such as Guoging Temple in Mt. Tiantai and Kaiyuan Temple in Yuezhou, and received teachings from eminent priests. In particular, Monk Faquan bestowed Enchin the profound meaning of Esoteric Buddhism at Qinglong Temple in Chang’an [now Xi’an]. In 858, Enchin left for home with enormous numbers of books, iconographies and ritual equipment. On the way to Japan, an old man who named himself Shinra Myojin appeared in the ship and promised Enchin to protect the Buddha’s teachings.

After coming back to Japan, Enchin restored and promoted Onjoji Temple to a Tendai Sect branch temple and stored the scriptures brought back from Tang China in the Toin Hall. In 868, he was appointed as the fifth Tendai head priest and dedicated himself to the prosperity of the Tendai Sect and enrichment of Tendai Esoteric Buddhism until his death at the age of 78 in October 891. In 927, his outstanding virtue was praised, and he was given the posthumous name, Chisho Daishi, by Emperor Daigo.