Kukai Exhibit

Yesterday after our walk, Ian and I visit the Aztec Museum and saw an exhibit about Kukai, the Buddhist monk who established the Shinran (See comments below: this is a typo - it should read Shingon) sect in Japan and is credited with with the first pilgrimage around Shikoku. Kukai, who received the Buddhist name Kobo Daishi, after his death walked around Shikoku and supposedly set up a large number of temples. Most of the 88 temples of the Henro pilgrimage claim to have been started by Kobo Daishi.

The exhibit yesterday was not what we expected. We had been led to believe that it would be mostly historical items and photos of the 88 temples. What we found was quite different but also interesting. The exhibit was set up in three parts. There at least three priests and two nuns from Koyasan, the mountain where the main Shinran temple was established by Kukai.

Part one had a scroll showing a picture of the enshrined Buddha or bosatsu (the stage before Buddhahood) for each temple. Below each scroll was a donation box. The idea was that you could symbolically walk around the 88 temples and, while not accruing as much credit as we will get for actually visiting each temple, you could get some of the credit. Ian and I walked around and looked at each scroll. I was surprised because they seemed to be computer graphics that had been enlarged so that they were a bit fuzzy. Also the colors were PC printer colors rather than actual paints or professional prints.

Part two had a photo taken at each temple. Some were of the buildings or grounds, but some were of people or statues. The photos were excellent and I really enjoyed them.

Part three had a very small collection of brass ritual goods (bowls, plates and things) and a container of sand which the sign said was a mixture of sand from the place where Buddha was born, where he was enlightened, and where he died. There was also a place where one of the nuns was giving a speech that did not sound very interesting from what we could here.

When we finish and started toward the exit, one on the priest came running over to us and handed each of us a certificate. It stated that we had completed the symbolic 88 temple pilgrimage and that we claim all of the benefits that walking in Kobo Daishi's footsteps offered.
The picture shows my certificate.