Chapter 35 Commemorate Monk Jianzhen with selfless spirit and positive actions

In the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement on Cultural Exchange signed in Beijing on October 9 last year, when referring to commemorating the 1200th anniversary of the death of Monk Jianzhen, he said: "In this memorable year, actively promote the The cultural exchange between the two countries has far-reaching significance." China and Japan, two Asian countries, are only separated by the East China Sea. The cultural exchanges between China and Japan did not begin in the Tang Dynasty. Monk Tang Jianzhen and his disciples, as well as the Japanese monks Rongdang and Puzhao who invited him, are second to none.Monk Jianzhen's journey to the east is the most brilliant and glorious page in the history of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges!

We all know that the visit of this huge Sangha group to Japan was not all smooth sailing. They have gone through all kinds of disasters and hardships, and endured the disaster of prison, the danger of wind and waves, and the hardship of epidemics...for ten years. , Five sails, all failed.Japanese monk Rongdang died of illness in Duanzhou, Chinese monk Xiangyan died of illness in Jizhou, and monk Jianzhen himself became blind due to heat and exhaustion. But Monk Jianzhen firmly believes that China and Japan are "countries with predestined relationship" and "for the sake of the Dharma, why should we spare our lives!" Their ambitions and ambitions have been fulfilled!Their devotion and perseverance, as well as their perseverance and loyalty, have given us great encouragement and encouragement.After 1,200 years, China and Japan have made new progress in culture. When the scope of cultural exchanges between our two peoples can and has been expanded, we can deepen each other's work in our own jobs. Understanding, strengthening unity, promoting smooth cultural exchanges between China and Japan, inheriting the great cause of Monk Jianzhen from above, and laying an important foundation for the friendly cooperation between the Chinese and Japanese people from generation to generation should be the cultural circles of China and Japan. The goal and direction of my efforts.

I was also honored to participate in the work of cultural exchanges between China and Japan. When I sat safely on the plane and flew towards Japan, I looked down at the vast expanse of green waves connecting China and Japan with my clear eyes. when I arrived in Japan, and my Japanese friends happily talked about our literature and art, which are inextricably linked; how I thanked the monk Jianzhen and his Japanese monks Two hundred years ago, a rainbow bridge of cultural exchange was built for us. Two rows of green trees of literature, art, academics and religion were planted beside the bridge, and thousands of bright lights of literature, art, academics and religion were lit on the bridge. , so that when we walk on this bridge today, we receive shade and light, but how tortuous and difficult their work of building the bridge was back then!

When I sat on the plane and flew towards Japan, I still had deep regret and anger in my heart.Today, when science is advanced, obstacles in the natural world cannot hinder the urgent desire of the Chinese and Japanese people for friendly exchanges.From Beijing to Tokyo, if there is direct traffic, it could have arrived in the morning and arrived in the afternoon!But U.S. imperialism and its followers, for more than ten years, have deliberately obstructed the restoration of normal diplomatic relations between China and Japan, and tried every means to sabotage the cultural exchanges between the Chinese and Japanese peoples.

However, in order to jointly crush the plots of U.S. imperialism and its followers, the fighting friendship and broad unity of the Chinese and Japanese peoples have been deepened more and more as a result.We have further realized that U.S. imperialism, the main bastion of world reactionary forces, is not only the common enemy of the Chinese and Japanese peoples, but also the common enemy of the peace-loving people in the world. We should have Monk Jianzhen and his disciples and friends In order to promote the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, to dispel the dark clouds hanging over Asia and the world, to prevent war and safeguard world peace, we are opposing our common enemy—— U.S. imperialists, do our best.

Let us commemorate Monk Jianzhen with selfless spirit and positive actions. Monk Jianzhen, who rests in the "land of destiny" among the friendly Japanese people, will live forever! March 19, 1963 in Beijing. (This article was originally published in Guangming Daily on April 26, 1963.)