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 Shingon sect still active in Japan. Eight of his works are presented here.

Review
Kukai was a polymath who has achieved the status of demigod in popular legend: in part because of his virtuosity as a writer of Chinese, his books are too difficult to read by any but a very few scholars in Japan today. Hakeda's achievement in arriving at these lively and intelligible translations is of the highest order.

(Choice)

This book serves two functions remarkably well: being an easy to follow, lucidly written introductory work for the non-initiated, and providing for the expert for the first time in English eight of Kukai's major works.

(World Literature Today)
About the Author
Hakeda was Associate Professor of Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and Associate Professor of Religion at Columbia University. Ryuichi Abe is the Reischauer Institute Professor of Japanese Religions in the Department of Eas Aisan Languages and Cultures at Harvard University.

I'm currently researching famous Japanese figures for a novel I'm writing. I purchased a few books focused on Kukai and Shingon Buddhism and this was definitely the most informative in getting a real understanding of Kukai, Shingon Buddhism, and the impact Kukai made upon Japan. The book is very thorough and feels incredibly authentic. Kukai made such a huge impact on Japan and it's sad that most of the western world does not even know he existed. This book was easy to pick up and read. Even one who barely understands Buddhism in general could benefit from this book, though it does go in-depth for the more experienced reader/researcher.-Gretchen Hintz

Kukai, more commonly known in Japan as 'Kobo Daishi' or just 'Odaishisama' is one of the pre-eminent figures in Japanese Buddhist history. His life and his work are still the stuff of legend in contemporary Japanese culture, as well as the Buddhist world there. What makes Kukai such an extraordinary figure was his talent for grasping difficult Buddhist teachings, but eloquently teaching them to a wide variety of people through his writings and through the esoteric rituals in Shingon Buddhism.

Books on Kukai in English are few and often scholarly, and difficult to read, but Professor Hakeda's book is a look both at the life and accomplishments of Kukai, an overview of his teachings, but also translated samples of his writings. The history and teaching sections alone are interesting, and worth a read, but it's also a great opportunity to read Shingon Buddhist writings that are otherwise very difficult hard to find outside of Japan. Kukai was a master of esoteric Buddhism, so at times his writings can seem very obtuse (hence the need for training under a reputable Shingon priest in good-standing), but other times his writings are brilliantly Buddhist and really speak to important matters.

For those looking for a broad overview of Kukai and his teachings, this is a great place to start.-Doug M

A rather emotionless treatment of the life of Kobodaishi / Kukai, Shingon Buddhisms founder. Although this is primarily a translation of some of Kukai's work - the lead up chapters that deal with his life and thought, are not very extensive and lack emphasis on the importance of his life and work.
I expected the actual writings of Kukai to be heavy going, and that is certainly so, especially with a severe lack of reference or footnotes. What is given, tends to assume that the reader is already well versed in Taoist and Confucian writings and thought. I found myself constantly searching through other texts to gain some more information on terms and references, that could have been provided by the author - if he had been a bit more dedicated to writing a in depth study of the subject.
Most disappointing is the lead in chapters that give an account of Kukai's life and his philosophical thought. It is adequate from the point of view of a novice researcher of Shingon, but why such a person would be reading the full texts of Kukai's writings is a mystery. I feel that Kukai's life is of far more importance than is given - and the style of writing there, seemed even more heavy going than the actual text of Kukai's 'esoteric' writings.
On the positive side, a student of Shingon needs to eventually read the full words and works of it's founder - and even for native English speakers who have acquired some mastery of Japanese, are going to need an English translation. So I do not regret purchasing this book - but will seek and recommend other publications to compliment an understanding of this subject.-Lord Kuz

Contents

Foreword, by Wm. Theodore de Bary
Preface
Introduction
Part One: Life of Kukai
Youth
Days of crisis
Renunciation and uest
Encounter with Master Hui-Kuo
Period of trial
Rise to eminence
Abhiseka ceremonies at the Takoasan Ji
Founding of Mt. Koya
The Toji period
Return to Mt. Koya
Part Two: Thought of Kukai
1 Exoteric Buddhism and esoteric Buddhism
Exoteric versus esoteric Buddhism
Esoteric Buddhism within exoteric Buddhism
Shingon Buddhism, the synthesis of exoteric Buddhism
2 Essentials of Kukai's esoteric Buddhist thought and practice
General charactersitics of Kukai's esoteric Buddhist thought
Dharmakaya Mahavairocana Tathagata
Kukai's esoteric Buddhist practice
Part Three: Major works of Kukai
1 Indications of the goals of the three teachings
2 A memorial presenting a list of newly imported sutras and other items
3 The difference between exoteric and esoteric Buddhism
4 The precious key to the secret treasury
5 Attaining enlightenement in this very existence
6 The meaningsof sound, word, and reality
7 The meanings of the word hum
8 The secret key to the heart sutra
Chronological table
Selected bibliography
Index