World Heritage Site in Japan / Koyasan Part-6 / When did Kobo Daishi (Kukai) (774-835) build the temple?

When did Kobo Daishi (Kukai) (774-835) build the temple in Koyasan?

 

In 807, Heizei Emperor gave Kobo Daishi (Kukai)

the permission to start a religion, Shingon Buhhidism.

 

Kobo Daishi (Kukai), as a founder of Shingon Buddhism,

in simple ways with easier words,

he taught Japanese people what he learned during studying abroad in China.

 

As I mentioned in our previous blog (Koyasan part 2) that

after returning from studying abroad in China,

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

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

 

June 19th, 816, he requested the Koyasan to be granted as a place for Zen training,

and on July 8th, 816, he gained the imperial sanction

that the mountain should be granted to him.

In 817, he sent his disciplines to Koyasan to start developing

and founding a base for his religion.

 

In November, 818, Kobo Daishi (Kukai) went up to Koyasan and stayed until the next year.

 

There were no roads, stairs or anything

but he cut through mountains to build temples on such a high mountains.

He probably wanted to teach us not only Bhuddism, I think he wanted teach us that

there's nothing we cannot do.

 

T.F