The Portrait
Retired Emperor Kazan thought so much of the Venerable Shoku that he once
took a painter with him to Mount Shosha. The painter was supposed to hide
where he could get a good look at the holy man, then paint his portrait
while he and Kazan talked. As the painter worked, the mountain rumbled and
shook -- in response, as the astonished Kazan immediately realized. Kazan
confessed his plan to Shoku and revered him even more after that.
Now, the painter had neglected to put in a few moles on Shoku's face. One
tremor, which almost made him drop his brush, shook several drops of ink
off onto the portrait. To everyone's amazement they corresponded precisely
to the moles.
The portrait is still in Mount Shosha's treasure hall.