The Relationship Between Kūkai, Eichū, and the Emperor Saga

The Japanese monk Eichū 永忠 (743–816), who had studied in Tang China, was respected by Emperor Kanmu 桓武 (737–806) and Emperor Saga 嵯峨 (786–842) both as a Buddhist monk and a man of culture. The entry for 815 in the Nihon kōki 日本後紀 notes that when Emperor Saga made an imperial procession to Ōmi, Eichū presented him with tea. Eichū has been said to have been Saichō’s disciple, and was also admired by Kūkai. Kūkai writes in his Go-shōrai mokuroku 御請来目録 that he stayed at Ximing monastery 西明寺 where Eichū had formerly stayed, and in his Henjō Hokki Shōryō shū 遍照発揮性霊集 he records that he wrote a letter to the Chinese court in place of Eichū at this request. This paper will examine the relationship between Kūkai, Eichū, Emperor Saga, and others.