Kukai, 9th century founder of esoteric Shingon Buddhism (Shingon Mikkyo) in Japan, was a peripatetic and socially heroic figure who roved far and wide assisting with infrastructure projects, excelling in the divining of water, and sculpting and painting icons… Or so the mythology that surrounds him would have us believe. He may not have accomplished … Continue reading A Brilliant Exploration of Kukai and the Pan-Asian Travels of Esoteric Buddhism at Nara National Museum: KUKAI: The Worlds of Mandalas and the Transcultural Origins of Esoteric Buddhism