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In the back of this photograph, there is "Okunoin",

where Kobodaishi (Kukai) is resting in peace.

*The back area is photography prohibited.

When Kobo Daishi (Kukai) was a child, his name was “Mao”.

He was raised by loving parents,

his father, “Saekino Ataidagimi Yoshimichi” and his mother, “Tamayori Gozen”.

As a child, it is said that he used to enjoy making Buddha statues with clay.

He studied very hard. He entered a university when he was 18 years old. He was very smart.

Besides studying in the university, he did many kinds of Buddhist training and studying.

When he was 19 years old, he became a priest.

His Buddhist name was “Kyoukai” and then after that it was changed to “Nyokuu”.

And finally, when he was 22 years old,

his name became “Kukai” which was the most well-known name for him.

More I get to know who he was,

I learned that he was an ambitious person whose passion was studying,

and never stopped studying and making changes.

After he entered the university, he showed how an active and curious person he was.

Entering the univerysity→Studying abroad in China→Learning Bhuddhism→Learning architecture→Teach Bhuddhism in Japan→He becomes curious about building a temple on Koyasan→Builds Kongobuji Temple on Koyasan

As we can see, Kobo Daishi (Kukai) was a kind of person who never stops moving forward.

He lived his life to the fullest.

We can learn from him. We can stay in action and live to the fullest.

T.F

As I mentioned in our previous blog on March 8th, 2016,

I visited temples on Koyasan

( registered in the UNESCO World Heritage sites on July 7th, 2004)

to take videos of a tree-planting ceremony.

Do you know who made Koyasan?

Kobo Daishi did. The name, Kobo Daishi is shigo (posthumous name) of the priest Kukai.

Kobo Daishi (Kukai) (774-835) is the founder of Shingon Buddhism.

A young Kobo Daishi (Kukai) discovered the site on Mount Koya

and he wanted to use it as a training ground for esoteric Buddhism.

So he built Kongobuji Temple on Koyasan.

As I mentioned in our previous blog,

Koyasan is the area of mountains from Wakayama Prefecture to the south of Osaka.

There is no mountain officially called “Koyasan” even “san” means a mountain in Japanese.

*For more notes about Koyasan, please check our previous blog,

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites -Koyasan-

He built Kongobuji Temple on such high mountains which are very isolated from the city,

so trainee monks and visitors were able to concentrate the Buddhist training

such as meditation, reading sutras and everything between.

For sure, it is very quiet so it’s a perfect place for anyone to meditate even just by visiting.

T.F