The Ksitigarbha Statues with Hats

Long ago, in a snowy village, there lived an elderly couple. Despite their kindness, they struggled with financial hardship. As the New Year approached, they couldn’t afford the traditional rice cakes for the celebration. To make ends meet, the old man decided to weave straw hats and sell them at the market. However, despite his hard work, he couldn’t sell a single hat.

An Unexpected Act of Kindness to the Ksitigarbha Statues

On his way home, a heavy snowstorm covered the streets. As the old man reached the village, he noticed six Ksitigarbha statues, each with snow covering their heads. Feeling compassion for the statues, he tried to brush the snow off. But each time he did, the snow returned. So, he decided to place the unsold straw hats on the statues to protect them from the snow. With only five hats, he used his own scarf to cover the last statue.

A Mysterious Gift for the Elderly Couple

When the old man returned home, his wife was surprised to see him covered in snow. He explained how he had used the hats and his scarf to cover the statues. His wife smiled and praised him for his thoughtful actions, saying, “Even without the rice cakes, you’ve done something good.”

That night, the couple was awakened by a strange noise outside. Alarmed, they opened the door to find large rice cakes, rice, vegetables, and fish piled in front of their house. The old man wondered who had left these gifts, and when he looked around, he saw six Ksitigarbha statues walking away, each wearing a hat. The last statue wore the old man’s scarf.

A Grateful Return for the Elderly Couple’s Kindness

The elderly couple stood in awe, realizing that their simple act of kindness toward the statues had been repaid in the most unexpected and generous way.