Kukai, more commonly known by the honorific Kobo Daishi, was one of the great characters in the development of Janpanese culture. He was active in literature, engineering, calligraphy, and architecture and is represented in this work in terms of his major effort--the introduction of esoteric Buddhism from China, which resulted in the formation of the Shingou sect still active in Japan. Eight of his works are presented here.

This volume includes five texts by Kukai (""On the Differences between the Exoteric and Esoteric Teachings""; ""The Meaning of Becoming a Buddha in This Very Body""; ""The Meanings of Sound, Sign, and Reality""; ""The Meanings of the Word Hum""; and, ""The Precious Key to the Secret Treasury""), and two by Kakuban (""The Illuminating Secret Commentary on the Five Cakras and the Nine Syllables""; and ""The Mitsugonin Confession"").