Miraculous Stories from the Japanese Buddhist Tradition by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub

311 On Attaining a Great Fortune Immediately Owing to Devotion to Kannon and Praying for a Share of Benefits

In the reign of ex-Emperor Shōhō-ōjin-shōmu2 residing at Nara Palace 諾樂宫, 3 Miteshiro no Azumabito 御手代東人4 went to Mt. Yoshino 吉野山5 to practice Buddhist teachings and seek his fortune. Three years passed during which he worshiped Kannon 觀音, reciting the name,6 and saying, "Homage to Kannon.7 Please give me ten thousand kar8 of copper coins, ten thousand koku9 of white rice and many beautiful girls."

At that time, Awata no asomi 粟田朝臣 of the Junior Third Rank10 had a daughter who was both unmarried and a virgin. She suddenly fell ill in her home in Hirose 廣瀨.11 Her suffering was so great that there seemed no prospect of a cure. Her father sent messengers in all directions to call Buddhist monks12 and lay brothers.13 Azumabito was called and begged to save her by chanting formulas.14 The power of the formulas cured the illness, and she fell in love with him, eventually giving herself to him. Her family seized him and kept him confined in a room. Out of her affection, she cried and would not leave the place of his confinement. After a conference, her family decided to free Azumabito and let him marry her and inherit the fortune. He was given the Fifth Rank owing to the report to the Throne.15

After several years, when she was dying, she called her sister, and said, "I am dying now. I have but one wish; will you listen?’’ Her sister said, "I will do as you like." Whereupon Azumabito’s wife said, "I can never forget my gratitude to Azumabito. I would like to make your daughter his wife and let her be in charge of the household."16 Faithful to her wish, the sister gave her daughter to Azumabito and put her in charge of the fortune.

Azumabito was richly blessed in this life because of the mysterious power he gained from his devotional practices and the great virtue of Kannon. How can anyone not believe that?

1. Cf. Konjaku monogatarishū (XVI, 14).

2.See I.5, n. 41.

3.Also written 奈良，平城.

4.The Miteshiro family descended from kami, according to the Shinsen shōjiroku.

5.Including mountains located in present Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken. See 1.28, n. 15.

6.稱豊 devotional rite of reciting Kannon’s name while prostrated before the image.

7.南無, a transliteration of Skt. namas.

8. one kan consists of one thousand pieces, mon.

9.石; one koku equals about five bushels.

10.Unidentified; Awata no asomi Mahito of the Senior Third Rank may be the person referred to, but he died in 719, before the reign of Emperor Shōmu (724–749).

11.Present Kita-kazuraki-gun, Nara-ken

12. zenji; dhyāna master.

13.優婆塞 ubasoku.

14.咒 ju; see Chap. I(1)d, n. 97.

15.As he became the son-in-law of Awata no asomi, he was given the rank.

16.This story demonstrates the practice of handing down authority for the ancestral cult and the family fortune from the aunt to the niece, which is still common in a priestess’ family. See Sakurai Mitsuru, "Mei no chikara: Naka no sumeramikoto o megutte," Kokugo to koku-bungaku, XLII (No. 12, December 1965), 23–33.

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