This humble statue is tied to one of the temple’s most well-known legends. Long ago, in a village east of Zenkoji, there lived an old woman who was greedy and had little faith. One day, while she was washing cloth by the river, an ox appeared, caught the cloth on its horn, and ran off. Determined to get it back, she chased the ox all the way to Zenkoji Temple — a place she had never visited before.

When she arrived, the ox vanished, and her cloth was found in front of the temple’s altar. That night, the Buddha appeared to her in a dream, gently guiding her to reflect on her life. Touched by the experience, she began to pray and visit the temple, and after her passing, it’s said she was granted rebirth in paradise.

It is believed the ox was the Buddha in disguise. Today, visitors rub the statue — especially its head — as a gesture of respect and in hopes of receiving blessings or spiritual insight.