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Religious dance at western Japan temple

An "Otaiya" religious dance is performed at Buddhist Shingon-sect Kongobu-ji temple on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on April 17, 2025, in honor of the sect's founder Kukai (774-835), posthumously known as Kobo Daishi.

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Religious dance at western Japan temple

An "Otaiya" religious dance is performed at Buddhist Shingon-sect Kongobu-ji temple on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on April 17, 2025, in honor of the sect's founder Kukai (774-835), posthumously known as Kobo Daishi.

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Festival celebrating famed Buddhist monk's birthday

Aoba Matsuri, a festival celebrating the birthday of Buddhist monk Kukai (774-835) -- posthumously known as Kobo Daishi and the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism -- is held on June 9, 2024, in the Wakayama prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, where he opened the Kongobuji temple in 816.

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Festival celebrating famed Buddhist monk's birthday

Aoba Matsuri, a festival celebrating the birthday of Buddhist monk Kukai (774-835) -- posthumously known as Kobo Daishi and the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism -- is held on June 9, 2024, in the Wakayama prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, where he opened the Kongobuji temple in 816.

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Festival celebrating famed Buddhist monk's birthday

Aoba Matsuri, a festival celebrating the birthday of Buddhist monk Kukai (774-835) -- posthumously known as Kobo Daishi and the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism -- is held on June 9, 2024, in the Wakayama prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, where he opened the Kongobuji temple in 816.

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Festival celebrating famed Buddhist monk's birthday

Aoba Matsuri, a festival celebrating the birthday of Buddhist monk Kukai (774-835) -- posthumously known as Kobo Daishi and the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism -- is held on June 9, 2024, in the Wakayama prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, where he opened the Kongobuji temple in 816.

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1,250th anniversary of Kukai's birth

Monks take part in an event to mark the 1,250th anniversary of the birth of Kukai, a revered Buddhist priest also known as Kobo Daishi, at Hase temple in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on May 15, 2023.

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1,250th anniversary of Kukai's birth

Monks take part in an event to mark the 1,250th anniversary of the birth of Kukai, a revered Buddhist priest also known as Kobo Daishi, at Hase temple in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on May 15, 2023.

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Japan monks perform 'Shomyo' Buddhist chant in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China - A group of some 20 young Japanese monks of Koyasan, a monastic center founded by the priest Kukai in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, perform a traditional "Shomyo" Buddhist chant in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 9, 2014.

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Replica of famous monk's wooden statute almost completed

TOKYO, Japan - Setsuo Imazu of the Kyushu National Museum looks at an almost completed ceramic replica of a seated wooden statue of Kukai, founder of the Shingon (True Word) school of Buddhism, at Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co. in Koga, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, in this file photo taken on July 22, 2014.

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Ceramic replica of Buddhist saint Kukai's wooden statue

OTSU, Japan - Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co. introduces a replica of the wooden statue of renowned monk Kukai (774-835), founder of the Shingon ("True Word") school of Buddhism, in Koga, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on July 24, 20014. The replica was created using the latest 3D technology and a traditional ceramic technique.

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Manjusri image at Chikurin-ji temple unveiled for 1st time in 50 years

KOCHI, Japan - "Monju Bosatsu, " an image of Manjusri, sitting atop a roaring lion, which symbolizes the powerful voice of Buddhist Law and the power of Buddhism to overcome all obstacles, goes on display to the public on April 25, 2014 for the first time in 50 years at Chikurin-ji, a Shingon temple in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, western Japan. The temple is number 31 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage said to be launched by Kukai, a renowned monk also known as Kobo Daishi, 1,200 years ago. The display is open to the public through May 25. (Pool photo by Kochi Shimbun).

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Traditional storytelling on Buddhism

OSAKA, Japan - Professional storyteller Kyokudo Nankai talks about a history of Kukai, who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism, before a gathering of people at a temple in Osaka's Chuo Ward on Dec. 27, 2013.

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Big plaque of priest Kukai set up at Wakayama shrine

HASHIMOTO, Japan - People gather before a giant wooden plaque depicting an encounter between Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism, and Kariba Myojin, the deity of the Niukanshobu-jinja shrine, set up at the shrine in Kudoyama, Wakayama Prefecture, on Jan. 15, 2014.

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Monk follows Kukai's footsteps for 30 yrs

OSAKA, Japan - Jien Shizuka, a monk from Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, speaks about pilgrimages to China he has made for 30 years to follow the footsteps of Japanese monk Kukai, during an interview on Nov. 4, 2013. Mt. Koya is Japan's headquarters of the Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism founded by Kukai in the early ninth century.

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4 satellites developed by students, business unveiled

OSAKA, Japan - Four small satellites -- ''Prism'' (center front), ''KKS1'' (L), ''Kagayaki'' (rear) and ''Kukai'' (R) -- developed by students and private business operators for launch in January on Japan's H-2A rocket, are shown at a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency facility in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Dec. 22.

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100,000 candles lit to honor spirits of ancestors

Some 20,000 people gather and light candles at a temple in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Aug. 13 to honor the spirits of ancestors. The ritual, called ''bon'' festival, is traditionally observed in mid-August in Japan. Some 100,000 candles were lit along a two-kilometer path leading to the grave of Kukai, or Kobo Daishi, a Buddhist priest of the early Heian period (794-1185).

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4 satellites developed by students, business unveiled

OSAKA, Japan - Four small satellites -- ''Prism'' (center front), ''KKS1'' (L), ''Kagayaki'' (rear) and ''Kukai'' (R) -- developed by students and private business operators for launch in January on Japan's H-2A rocket, are shown at a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency facility in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Dec. 22. (Kyodo)

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Ceremony held to give thanks for rich hot water at spa resort in central Japan

A monk at Shuzenji temple in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, puts hot water into a wooden pail held by a woman at a traditional ceremony to thank renowned Buddhist monk Kukai who is said to have discovered hot springs in the central Japanese city some 1,200 years ago. (Photo by Izu Shimbun) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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West Japan temple opens famed founder Kukai's statue to public

Visitors offer prayers in front of a statue of Buddhist monk Kukai enshrined at Kongobuji, the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism, in Koya, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on its public opening day of Oct. 1, 2015. Kukai, posthumously known as Kobo Daishi and founder of the sect, also established the temple in the Koyasan mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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West Japan temple opens famed founder Kukai's statue to public

A statue of Buddhist monk Kukai is opened to the public on Oct. 1, 2015, for a month-long run at Kongobuji, the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism, in Koya, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Kukai, posthumously known as Kobo Daishi and founder of the sect, also established the temple in the Koyasan mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ceramic replica of monk statue on show in western Japan

A visitor touches the ceramic replica of a statue of Kukai, founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, on Aug. 8, 2015, at an exhibition in Tokushima, western Japan. The exhibition was held to mark the 1,200th anniversary of Kukai's establishment of a monastery in the Koya mountain range in Wakayama, western Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Buddhist practitioners' school on Mt. Koya

New green leaves in a garden are seen reflected on a polished floor at Koyasan Senshugakuin, a Buddhist practitioners' school on Mt. Koya in western Japan on May 6, 2015. This year marks the 1,200th anniversary of the establishment of a monastery on the mountain by Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Buddhist practitioners' school on Mt. Koya

Photo taken after sunset on April 27, 2015, shows Koyasan Senshugakuin, a Buddhist practitioners' school on Mt. Koya in western Japan. This year marks the 1,200th anniversary of the establishment of a monastery on the mountain by Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Buddhist practitioners' school on Mt. Koya

A student of Koyasan Senshugakuin, a Buddhist practitioners' school, reads a book of a Buddhist sutra on May 11, 2015, on Mt. Koya in western Japan. This year marks the 1,200th anniversary of the establishment of a monastery on the mountain by Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Buddhist practitioners' school on Mt. Koya

Students of Koyasan Senshugakuin, a Buddhist practitioners' school, chat on May 18, 2015, in a room at the school's dormitory on Mt. Koya in western Japan. This year marks the 1,200th anniversary of the establishment of a monastery on the mountain by Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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1,200 years since start of monastic settlement on Mt. Koya

Sumo's grand champion Hakuho (C) dedicates a ring-entering ritual on April 2, 2015, during a ceremony to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of a monastic settlement started by renowned monk Kukai at Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Buddhist services will be held daily through May 21. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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1,200 years since start of monastic settlement on Mt. Koya

Monks read the sutras on April 2, 2015, during a ceremony to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of a monastic settlement started by renowned monk Kukai at Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Buddhist services will be held daily through May 21. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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1,200 years since start of monastic settlement on Mt. Koya

Monks attend a ceremony on April 2, 2015, to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of a monastic settlement started by renowned monk Kukai at Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Buddhist services will be held daily through May 21. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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1,200 years since start of monastic settlement on Mt. Koya

Photo taken on March 31, 2015 shows Konpon Daito Pagoda, built by renowned monk Kukai and one of the most prominent buildings of the Danjo Garan temple complex on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Buddhist services will be held daily from April 2 to May 21, 2015 to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of monastic settlement. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tokyo snapshot: Nishiarai Daishi temple's well, origin of place name

Photo taken on Oct. 21, 2015, shows an old well at Nishiarai Daishi temple in Tokyo, built in 826 by legendary monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi. Legend has it that water from the well cured plague. As the well is located on the west side of the temple's grounds, it was called "Nishiarai," literally a new well in the west. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tokyo snapshot: Approach to Nishiarai Daishi evokes image of Showa

Photo taken on Oct. 21, 2015, shows the approach to Nishiarai Daishi temple in Tokyo, built in 826 by legendary monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, as a citadel of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It is lined with various small shops reminiscent of an atmosphere of the Showa era (1926-1989). (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Stone-paved road to nikko takio shrine

Takinoo Shrine of Nikko was built by the Buddhist saint Kukai to worship Tagokoro-no-himemiko, goddess of Mt. Nyoho. Old cedar trees grow along the approach to Takinoo Shrine, and natural stones are laid. The gigantic size of the old cedar trees is emphasized by the person walking.==Date:unknown, Place:Nikko, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number7‐13‐0]

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Ohashi Bridge at the entrance to the inner sanctum,Mt. Koya

Okunoin, located on the east side of Mt. Koya, is the sacred land surrounding the grave of the founder, Kobo-Taishi, or Kukai. The worship of Kobo-Taishi spread from Mt. Koya throughout Japan during the Kamakura Period, and now more than 200,000 graves, large and small, can be seen from Ohashi Bridge (Ichino-hashi) at the entrance to the area and the grave of Kobo-Taishi.==Date:unknown, Place:Wakayama, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number71‐6‐0]

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Approach to nikko takio shrine

The Takinoo Shrine of Nikko worships Tagokoro-no-Himemiko as its deity and is said to have been established by Kukai. Old cedar trees stand along the approach to Takinoo Shrine, paved with natural stones. A woman in a kimono and a palanquin bearer are visible in the photo, emphasizing the size of the old cedar trees.==Date:unknown, Place:Nikko, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number9‐15‐0]

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Japan monks perform 'Shomyo' Buddhist chant in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China - A group of some 20 young Japanese monks of Koyasan, a monastic center founded by the priest Kukai in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, perform a traditional "Shomyo" Buddhist chant in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 9, 2014. (Kyodo)

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Replica of famous monk's wooden statute almost completed

TOKYO, Japan - Setsuo Imazu of the Kyushu National Museum looks at an almost completed ceramic replica of a seated wooden statue of Kukai, founder of the Shingon (True Word) school of Buddhism, at Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co. in Koga, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, in this file photo taken on July 22, 2014. (Kyodo)

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Zenpukuji Temple,Azabu

This is a Shingon Sect temple established by Kukai (Kobo Taishi) in 824. The sanmon and main hall are in the foreground and background, respectively. The large tree on the left is the upside-down gingko, which is still the largest gingko tree in Tokyo. This spot became the site of the American Legation after the effectuation of the Japan-U.S. Commercial Treaty in June 1859. Townsend Harris was the first envoy. The Legation moved to Tsukiji Akashi-machi in 1875. This photograph was taken in 1863 by Felix Beato, soon after Harris' arrival in Japan. The study was later burned to the ground by angry samurai from the Mito Clan.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:F. Beato, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number104‐12‐0]

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100,000 candles lit to honor sp

Some 20,000 people gather and light candles at a temple in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Aug. 13 to honor the spirits of ancestors. The ritual, called ''bon'' festival, is traditionally observed in mid-August in Japan. Some 100,000 candles were lit along a two-kilometer path leading to the grave of Kukai, or Kobo Daishi, a Buddhist priest of the early Heian period (794-1185). ==Kyodo