was a Buddhist monk in Nara

Nara, Nara

is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...

 Japan of the Kegon

Kegon

Kegon is the name of the Japanese transmission of the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism.Huayan studies were founded in Japan when, in 736, the scholar-priest Rōben originally a monk of the Hossō tradition invited Shinshō to give lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at...

 sect, and pupil of Roben

Roben

, also known as Ryōben, was a Japanese Buddhist monk of the Kegon sect, and clerical founder of the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, Japan. He is popularly known as the ....

. In his later years, Jitchu oversaw the expansion of Todaiji temple, and introduced liturgy and rituals still used today. The most noteworthy of these ceremonies is the Shuni-e

Shuni-e

The is a ceremony held each year at certain Buddhist temples in Japan. The name comes from its observance in the second month of the lunisolar calendar. Today, the service is usually held in either February or March, depending on temples....

 repentance ceremony established by Jitchu at the request of Empress Kōmyō, wife of Emperor Shomu

Emperor Shomu

was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...

, who hoped to heal the ailing Emperor.