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Shingon| Japanese school of esoteric Buddhism, one of the main Buddhist traditions of Japan. It emphasizes the gradual path to enlightenment through meditation and reflection. It was introduced to Japan from China in 806 by the monk Kūkai (774–835), posthumously known as Kōbō Daishi. Shingon has (1990) nearly 4,000 temples in Japan, with more than 10 million members. |
| Mandalas (symbolic representations of the universe) are important aids to meditation, as words are thought to be insufficient to convey the true meaning of the Shingon teachings. Spiritual exercises include hand gestures, visualizations, and secret practices. The Buddha Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana) is considered to be the essence of the cosmos. |
| Shingon advocated the synthesis of Shinto and Buddhism (Ryōbu Shinto) and received official patronage under Kūkai. He established the school's headquarters on Mount Kōya, south of Osaka, in 816. |
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