Jian Zhen (688-763), originally surnamed Chunyu, was born in Jiangyin (now Yangzhou, Jiangsu), Yangzhou.

At the age of 14, he became a monk in Dayun Temple, Yangzhou, and was ordained at the age of 22. In his early years, he traveled to Chang'an, Luoyang and other places. Since the age of 26, he has been the abbot of Daming Temple, Yangzhou, specializing in precepts. After that, he has studied architecture, sculpture, medicine, etc., and became a knowledgeable senior monk.

Beginning in 743, at the invitation of the Japanese monks Rong Rui, Puzhao and the Japanese government, who had returned from their studies in the Tang Dynasty, they suffered setbacks and failed to make five journeys to the east. During this time, due to excessive toil, they felt the heat and went blind.

In 753 AD, Jianzhen carried a large number of Buddhist scriptures, statues and books for the sixth eastward journey. After many difficulties and dangers, he arrived in Kyushu, Japan on January 23, 754 (December 26, the 12th anniversary of Tang Tianbao). Soon after, an altar was built at Todaiji Temple in Nara, and the teaching of martial arts began for Japanese Buddhists to be ordained on the altar. The Japanese court named him "Master of the Lantern". Jianzhen's eastward journey made outstanding contributions to the friendship between China and Japan.