Once upon a time in Bingo province, there was a great temple called Mitanidera. When the temple was built, there was no gold for adorning the image of the Buddha. The people of the province went to meet a priest called Kosai Osho. They asked the priest to take the different kinds of produce by boat to Kyoto and sell them for gold. After completing his tasks, Kosai went to the port of Osaka. He was about to board the boat for home. Suddenly, he saw some fishermen who were about to kill the four big turtles they had caught. His heart was moved. He paid to the fishermen and bought the turtles. Then, he let them loose in the sea. He set sail soon after that, but while returning, a pirate ship appeared. The pirates held two of his attendants and they threw them into the sea.
Kosai Osho and the Pirates
Now, the pirates turned towards Kosai and said, “You go into the sea, too. If you won’t go by yourself, we will throw you like your attendants.” With no other option, Kosai climbed overboard to jump. The pirates rowed off with the boat loaded with gold. As he jumped into the sea, Kosai landed upon something like a rock. He stood on it, the whole night. In the morning, he looked closely and what he thought was a rock was actually a huge turtle-shell. On returning to his own village, he told this strange story. Everybody praised him for his kindness towards the turtles who had repaid his kindness. A big temple was now built. Some men came there to sell gold. Kosai went out to see. Among them were six of those pirates. They recognised Kosai. But Kosai only told them the price of the trade and gave it to them. The wicked pirates took the money and silently went away.
