There are so many regional Legend in local cities in Japan. It would be of great fun to listen to each legend explained by native old lady or old man taken over for many years in that region from mouth to mouth from great grand-father or mother to grand-sons. In old days, Nature, particularly High Mountain or steep cliff seems to be regarded as so sacred as to be highly respected as its object. In that sense, Mountain Religion seems to be so rapidly spread all over Japan, and in that sense, here, famous Nunobiki Kannon Temple has very famous regional Religious Legend, whatever true or not you may believe in when listening to this legend. One day, from the sky, one piece of white-colored fabric is flying down over the head of Water-buffalo. All of a sudden, water-buffalo was scared by seeing nothing with fabric hanging over the horn. Then it started to run away , accompanied by owner, old-lady. She tried to hold and catch up with water-buffalo, but it still ran and ran far away, away, away, to take fabric back. Finally, it stopped running at big temple, where we call Nagano ZENKOUJI Temple.
With no intention, old-lady came to Nagano Zenkouji Temple with chasing water-buffalo and white fabric hanging over the horn. This is a kind of Dream-Teller, but this regional Legend suggests a kind of Religious Revelation by Buddah with dream. This Temple was said to be originally founded in 724, early 8th Century., but burned down by war fire in middle of 16th Century , and current Temple was rebuilt in late EDO era, two centuries after. Nuno: Fabric , BIKI: dragging in English