The spring of Kobo

Once upon a time, in a small shabby house in a village called Hata (now in Hitachi-Ōta), there lived a sick mother with her good daughter Ochiyo.

One very hot summer day, a traveling priest, dressed like a beggar, happened to call at the village. The hot weather made him very thirsty, so he came into Ochiyo's house and said, "I am a traveling priest. Would you kindly give me a glass of water?"

At that time, the village was being hit by a severe shortage of water. There had been no rain for almost a month after the young rice plants were planted. Everyday, the villagers had to walk to draw water from a spring in a far away ravine, carrying heavy pails. They were very worried that the spring would dry up since it had shrunk to a mere trickle.

The priest had asked some villagers for water but had been refused because water was too important to simply give away. Ochiyo also knew that she could not spare a single drop. However, she felt very sorry for him and gave him a big bowl of water.

He enjoyed drinking it up and said, "I feel quite refreshed. I would like to offer you a reward for your kindness." Then, he moved to the corner of the garden and changed a sutra for a while. Suddenly he stuck his staff into the ground, and strangely enough, water began to well up at the spot. It gradually increased in strength and was soon flowing rapidly. When the priest saw this happen, he smiled and went on his way.

Since then, this well has never run dry, even in the longest droughts. It is said that the traveling priest was in fact Kobo Daishi, the man who founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan. From that time on the well came to be known as "Kobo Shimizu", "the Spring of Kobo".

So tradition has it that when you happen to see a shabbily dressed person, you should treat him or her kindly because someone in the clothing of a beggar may well be a great person like Kobo Daishi.