(671–741) One of the Shingon patriarchs, Vajrabodhi was an Indian priest who brought esoteric teachings to China. He was born in south India and converted to Buddhism in his teens. He studied logic with Dharmakīrti and yoga with Santijnana before travelling to Sri Lanka and Sumatra and eventually to China in 720. While in China he translated texts into Chinese, performed rituals, and created religious art.