Ishiteji
"Stone Hand Temple"
The legend of this temple states that there was once a very stingy man named Emon Saburō. One day a pilgrim came to his door asking for alms, but Emon refused. This went on until the 8th days when Emon got so angry he took the pilgrim's bowl and smashed it into 8 peices. The pilgrim left to continue his journey, but over the next 8 days each of Emon's 8 sons died. Realizing what he had one, Emon went to the temples clockwise to find the pilgrim and beg forgiveness. He walked the pilgrimage 20 time and never found the pilgrim. He then decided to walk it counter-clockwise. On his 21st pilgrimage, Emon met Kobo Daishi at the base of the mountain leading to temple 12. As he was worn out and dying, he begged Kobo for forgiveness. Kobo told his that all his hard work and repentance had removed his sins and asked if Emon had any last wishes. Emon said that he's like to be reborn as a lord so that he could do good and make up for past wrongs. Kobo took a stone, wrote something on it and buried Emon (who had passed away), marking his grave with his cedar walking stick. Years later, the wife of a daimyo gave birth to a son who would not open his left hand for 3 years after his birth. A priest succeded in opening the child's hand and found a stone that said "Incarnation of Emon Saburō" on it. The boy later grew up to be a daimyo.
Temple 58, I'm starting to feel a bit crushed beneath all this information. Especially with how involved this temple's legend is. I do like this one though, especially since it's not all "you did somehting bad, you can never be forgiven". Except for the whole all of his sons dying thing it's a pretty good morality story.
Abby's off looking at the temple some more so I think I'm gonna just sit around for a bit. These pilgrimages are tiring!
