The Life of the Priest Kobo (Kobo Daishi Zaito)

Object Details

• Label

  Kobo Daishi is the posthumous name given to the monk Kukai (774–835), a revered poet and calligrapher who, as founder of the Shingon school, continues to be revered as a major force in the development of Japanese Buddhism. From 804 to 806, Kukai studied in China under the tutelage of Huiguo (746–805), the patriarch of Esoteric Buddhism. Kukai was Huiguo’s last and most accomplished disciple and became his teacher’s successor as the eighth patriarch of Esoteric Buddhism.

  This scroll is one of a pair that offers an imagined glimpse into Kukai’s stay in China. Huiguo’s understanding of Buddhism was more in keeping with its original transmission from its native India, and it thus contained significant elements of yogic practice as well as rich and complex imagery with Indian characteristics. By stressing the potential for spiritual growth through the effective use of iconography, Kukai raised works of religious art to heightened prominence. His influence on aesthetics during the Heian period (794–1185) was considerable.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Spreading the Word (May 18 to November 12, 2018)

  Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)

  Telling Tales in Japanese Art (November 23, 1996 to August 14, 1997)

  Japanese Lacquer (April 16, 1979 to October 8, 1980)

  Japanese Art (April 11, 1978 to March 6, 1981)

  Japanese Art, Galleries 3, 4, and 5 (January 1, 1963 to September 16, 1970)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Natural Material

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1200s, 1300s

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), Art, Priest, Food habits, Japanese Art

• Culture

  Buddhists, Japanese

• Object Type

  Natural materials