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Following Kûkai's death in [[835]], he was posthumously named Kôbô Daishi ("The Great Teacher of the Spreading of the Law"), and was buried at Mt. Kôya. According to Shingon belief, he did not in fact die, but remains, rather, in a state of deep meditation, atop Mt. Kôya, awaiting the coming of [[Miroku]] (Maitreya, Buddha of the Future). A massive graveyard can be found on Mt. Kôya today, including the burials of a great many prominent historical figures, among others, who chose to be buried there in order to eventually follow Kûkai into salvation.

Following Kûkai's death in [[835]], he was posthumously named Kôbô Daishi ("The Great Teacher of the Spreading of the Law"), and was buried at Mt. Kôya. According to Shingon belief, he did not in fact die, but remains, rather, in a state of deep meditation, atop Mt. Kôya, awaiting the coming of [[Miroku]] (Maitreya, Buddha of the Future). A massive graveyard can be found on Mt. Kôya today, including the burials of a great many prominent historical figures, among others, who chose to be buried there in order to eventually follow Kûkai into salvation.

Kûkai is regarded one of the "three brushes," or three great calligraphers of his time, alongside [[Emperor Saga]] and [[Tachibana no Hayanari]].<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Kei, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 252.</ref>

Kûkai is regarded one of the "three brushes," or three great calligraphers of his time, alongside [[Emperor Saga]] and [[Tachibana no Hayanari]].<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 252.</ref>

Statues of Kôbô Daishi are a common sight at temples in Japan, and are easily recognizable by the signs of a traveling monk's outfit, including the round hat and staff with rings at the top. The [[bodhisattva]] [[Jizo|Jizô]] is often depicted similarly, however.

Statues of Kôbô Daishi are a common sight at temples in Japan, and are easily recognizable by the signs of a traveling monk's outfit, including the round hat and staff with rings at the top. The [[bodhisattva]] [[Jizo|Jizô]] is often depicted similarly, however.

==References==

==References==

*Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 56.  

*Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 56.  

[[Category:Religious Figures]]

[[Category:Religious Figures]]

[[Category:Heian Period]]

[[Category:Heian Period]]