Yōshō was of the Kii clan in Noto Province and became a disciple of Master Kūjitsu of the Shōrengein Temple of Saitō. In the third year of Gangyō (879), at the age of eleven, Yōshō went to Mount Hiei to study. Being brilliant, Yōshō never repeated the same question. He memorized the Hokekyō and studied the teachings of the Tendai Sect. He avoided secular affairs and loved to meditate. His mind was always serenely balanced, unmoved by fame and unaffected by sentiments like joy and anger. He was firmly devoted to ascetic practices.

Yōshō neither slept long, nor frittered away his time. Being merciful, he offered his clothes to those without clothing and food to the hungry. He even let insects such as mosquitoes bite him as much as they wished. He copied the Hokekyō and constantly recited it.

Later Yōshō went to seek the ancient haunts of hermits in Mount Mitake and sequestered himself south of the capital in Mutaji Temple to learn the way of hermits.

First, he avoided cereals and ate only greens. Second, he ate fruits and nuts instead of greens. Soon he took only a grain of millet a day, wore vines as a robe, and completely lost interest in food and clothes forever. He solely concentrated on attaining the way with a great faith.

In the autumn of the first year of Engi (901), Yōshō disappeared without any trace. He hung his robe from a pine branch for Master Enmyō of Dōgenji Temple. Master Enmyō obtained the robe, grieved tearfully and searched for Yōshō in vain.

On one occasion, the ascetic Priest Onshin of Mount Yoshino said that Yōshō had become a bloodless and fleshless hermit with a strange bony frame covered by unusual hair, and that he had seen Yōshō flying with two wings like a phoenix or a fiery horse near the summit north of Ryūmonji Temple.

On another occasion, one of the Yōshō’s old colleagues from the main temple on Mount Hiei saw Yōshō near the summit of Matsumoto of Kumano and discussed some questions with him.

At another time, a priest on a summer retreat was reciting the Hokekyō while fasting for days in a stone chamber of Shō. A boy in blue brought white rice to the priest. The priest found it very tasty. He questioned the boy who replied, “I was a disciple of Priest Enzai of the Senkōin Temple of Mount Hiei. After years of practice, I have become a hermit. My recent master is Hermit Yōshō. Today’s rice is his gift to you.” As the boy finished speaking, he disappeared.

In the twenty-third year of Engi (923), a priest of the Tōdaiji Temple saw Yōshō in Mount Mitake. Yōshō said, “I have been living on this mountain more than fifty years and am now older than eighty. I have mastered the way of the hermit and can fly as I wish. I can ascend in the air and descend underground at will. Thanks to the power of the Hokekyō, I can see Buddhas and hear the Law as I like. I have fully assisted and sufficiently benefitted the people in the world.”

At one time, Yoshō’s parent became fatally ill. The parent grieved, saying, “Though I have many children, Yōshō has been my favorite. If he understands my feelings, I wish he could come and see me.” Yōshō mysteriously perceived this, flew to his parent’s house, and recited the Hokekyō over the roof.

The people in the house came out and saw no one, but heard Yōshō’s voice addressing his parent, “Since I left the secular world, I have not contacted people for a long time. Yet out of filial piety, I have come here and communicate with you by reciting the sūtra. On the eighteenth of each month, wait for me by burning incense and scattering flowers. Relying on the incense smoke, I will come here, recite the sūtra, and preach the Law to return my parent’s favor.”

An old man of Mount Hiei said that Yōshō visited the mountain annually in the eighth month, listened to the recitation of the Buddha’s name, and paid his respects to the Great Master Jikaku. He never came at other times. When asked the reason, Yōshō responded, “Mount Hiei is filled with the hot fire of bribery by donors and believers and I cannot bear the vulgar smell of the various priests in the mountain.” (Page 70-71)

Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan