Emon Saburō

Emon Saburō (衛門三郎) is a legendary figure of early ninth-century Japan associated with Kūkai and the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage.

A mendicant visited the house of Emon Saburō, richest man in Shikoku, seeking alms.

After his eight sons fell ill and died, Emon realized that Kūkai was the affronted pilgrim and set out to seek his forgiveness.

Shortly afterwards a baby was born with his hand grasped tightly around a stone inscribed "Emon Saburō is reborn."

When the baby grew up, he used his wealth to restore the Ishite-ji (石手寺) or "stone-hand temple", in which there is an inscription of 1567 recounting the tale.