Ryuou -usagi

In the legends surrounding Shoaki Minamura, the revered founder of Rinzaijong Temple and Kotokuji Temple, an extraordinary tale is told of a mysterious white rabbit and its divine transformation. This legend is still honored today along the shores of Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City.

The White Rabbit and the Wolves

Long ago, Daisaku, a young monk, traveled to the Song Dynasty to study under the esteemed Shrine Zen master in Kisayama. For eight years, he dedicated himself to rigorous training before returning to Japan.

On his journey home, as he navigated a treacherous mountain path, he witnessed a desperate scene—a white rabbit, pursued by a pack of bloodthirsty wolves. Without hesitation, the monk scooped up the frightened creature, placing it inside his robes. Chanting sacred sutras, he calmed the wolves until they finally scattered. Strangely, the rescued rabbit refused to leave his side, and so he carried it with him as he continued his travels.

The Storm and the Miracle

As the monk and his companions set sail for Japan, a violent storm struck their ship near the Bund, threatening to capsize it. The winds howled, the waves surged, and all seemed lost. In this dire moment, the monk began reciting sutras—and suddenly, the white rabbit leapt from his robes.

To the astonishment of all aboard, the rabbit danced across the raging sea, leaping from wave to wave, calming the storm with every bound. The water parted in its wake, revealing a safe passage that guided the ship to shore.

As the travelers reached Nishi Beach in Fukuoka, the rabbit ascended into the sky, glowing with a golden light. In its final transformation, it vanished into the heavens—revealed as the Dragon King himself.

A Legacy in Stone

In honor of this “Dragon King Rabbit”, a monument now stands at the south exit of Nishi-Hama Station—a golden rabbit and a dragon intertwined in eternal motion, a tribute to the divine creature that once saved a great monk and his followers from certain doom.