Kobo Daishi (Kukai)

Kobo Daishi, known in life as Kukai, was a ninth-century Japanese Buddhist monk who founded the Shingon school of esoteric Buddhism after studying in Tang China. He is traditionally credited with establishing the sacred temple complex on Mount Koya, which became a major center for memorial rites and rituals honoring the dead. Devotional tradition also associates him with purification practices and esoteric rites intended to ward off misfortune, reflecting his lasting legacy in Japanese religious life.