Kakuban (1095-1144) is the second most important figure in the history of the Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism, but there are few studies about him in Western languages. This work contains a biography and a discussion of Kakuban's works, focusing on his doctrines. Although it is widely believed that Kakuban incorporated Amidist ideas and practices into Shingon, this study shows that Kakuban's aim was to explain the practices of other schools from an orthodox Shingon point of view. The translations of Kakuban's major works, the Amida hishaku and the Gorin kuji myô himitsushaku, clearly support this idea.

This book explores trans-cultural and cross-border transmission and transformation of Esoteric Buddhism in East Asia, focusing on its manuscript culture and the transborder transmission of Esoteric Buddhist texts. In East Asia, Esoteric Buddhism’s influences can be seen across all levels of society: not only in that it achieved a recognizable sectarian identity, but also because elements of esoteric teachings were absorbed by other religious schools, influencing their philosophical tenets and everyday practices. The influence was not confined to the religious sphere: scholars have been paying more and more attention to the significance of Tang Esoteric Buddhism in relation to material culture and the dissemination of Esoteric Buddhist technologies in South, Central, and East Asia. No matter how one looks at a maṇḍala—an integral feature of esoteric practice—or the uncannily expressive statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or Yidam that come in all shapes and sizes, or the murals that depict the variegated, mysterious themes of the esoteric tradition, one can always recognise the profound connection between art and Esoteric Buddhism. Esoteric Iifluences also abound in East Asian literature across different genres, displaying its unique characters both in poetry and prose. Likewise, in architecture, one can readily make out the enigmatic, colorful and distinctive elements characteristic of the esoteric tradition. Monks initiated into the esoteric lineages not only brought Buddhist classics and practices to China but also advanced knowledge in astronomy, calendarial calculations and mathematical theories. The chapters in this volume focus on two major aspects of textual Esoteric Buddhism—its manuscript culture and transborder transmission. This book will be beneficial to advanced students and researchers interested in Religious Studies, History and Buddhist studies. It was originally published as a special issue of Studies in Chinese Religions.

Kodo Daishi (774-835) is one of the most respected and popular Buddhist masters of Japan. He was the founder of Shingon or Esoteric Buddhism in Japan, a civil engineer, and a wandering saint. Many achievements have been attributed to him including this collection of 48 maxims, which some scholars say are gleanings of the Chinese classics. Whichever the case, Kobo Daishi is a cultural hero in Japan and a man of incontestable genius and extraordinary accomplishments. School children throughout Japan for nearly a millennium began their education by learning these wise sayings in the Jitsugokyo, "Teachings of the Words of Truth."