Ennin is a Japanese monk. He traveled to Tang China as part of a 651-men Japanese tribute mission to the Tang emperor in AD 838. After 9 years there studying Buddhist texts and rituals he returned to Japan.
He kept a detailed diary of his journey. He wrote in classical Chinese.
Edwin O Reischauer is the translator. I find the translation stilted. The annotations could be better. It is difficult to read this diary.
Readers should start with Ennin’s Travels. Edwin in this companion book has provided context and covered topics like Life in Tang China, the Japanese embassy to China, etc.
This book is not easy to read. Perhaps, books written in 1955 are not edited as thoroughly and peer-reviewed as much as nowadays.
I like to buy this book. Please help me get it.