“Sending a Monk Back to Japan” is a work by the Tang Dynasty poet Qian Qi. This poem was written to bid farewell to a Japanese monk, expressing the author’s respect for the Japanese monk’s spirit of not fearing hardships, and praising the Japanese monk’s holy character and noble conduct. The poem is written in a unique style, with clear and beautiful verses and harmonious rhymes. Because the monk being sent back to Japan, every sentence uses Buddhist terminology and is full of religious color.
《送僧归日本》是唐代诗人钱起的作品。此诗写作者送别日本僧人，表达了对日本僧人不畏艰难精神的敬重，赞颂了日本僧人品格的圣洁和道行的高尚。诗之写法别具一格，诗句清丽，音韵和谐，由于被送的是归日本的和尚，句句运用佛家术语，充满宗教色彩。
《送僧归日本》 钱起
上国随缘住，来途若梦行。
浮天沧海远，去世法舟轻。
水月通禅寂，鱼龙听梵声。
惟怜一灯影，万里眼中明。
Seeing a Japanese Bonze Off to Japan
Qian Qi
For Buddhism’s sake you have come in this land to stay;
You seem to have voyaged dreamily along your way.
The boundless sea you crossed upsurges to the skies;
The vessel laden with Buddha’s teaching its way flies.
The moon and water know something Buddhism can lend;
To the chanted Sutra fish and dragons their ears bend.
That which we hold dear is the solitary light
From thousand and thousand li away shining bright.
