At the request of Japan, where there had been no formal systems for vowing to observe the Buddhist commandments, Jianzhen came to Japan and established Kaidan-in on the west of the Great Buddha Hall, to perform pledging rites for Emperor Shomu and many monks.
それまで正式の戒壇のなかった日本からの要請にこたえ来日したもので、鑑真は大仏殿西に戒壇院を設立し、聖武天皇や多くの僧に戒を授けた。