空海 (Kūkai), also known as Kōbō Daishi, was a prominent Japanese monk, scholar, and founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism in the early 9th century. Born in 774, he traveled to China to study Buddhism and returned to Japan, where he established temples and promoted esoteric practices. Kūkai is also known for his contributions to Japanese culture, including calligraphy and poetry. Kūkai's teachings emphasized the importance of meditation and the use of mantras, which are sacred sounds or phrases. He is credited with developing the Kana writing system, which helped make literature more accessible to the Japanese people. His legacy continues to influence Japanese Buddhism and culture today.