The temple of Jooshooji 常照寺, nestled in the foothills of northern Kyoto, is well known for the tomb of a famous lady entertainer from the early 17thc. People gather in early April when the cherry trees are in bloom to remember her with a tea ceremony. The temple’s brochure, however, doesn’t write about another even older treasure, that is almost hidden in the back of the Kishibojin Hall . I went there in December, 2013, when the autumn colors were at their most vibrant, but what I was searching for was the temple’s connection to Ennin Jikaku Daishi. I had been told that there was a small statue of Kishibojin (鬼子母神、Sanskrit: Hariti), the patron saint of children and easy childbirth, which had been carved by Ennin’s own hand. I was given permission to get up close to the small wooden statue seated on the far left side of the altar protected in a lacquered shrine. It was blackened by the centuries of incense and its features worn、but I could make out the carving of a figure on its chest representing a baby nursing and the left hand supporting it. In the statue’s right hand appears to be a jar or is it the usual pomegranate with its symbolic many seeds. On her face is a smile of maternal satisfaction. Ennin’s name is carved on the statue, so that would make it over 1, 150 years old. It seems that making such statues was all part of Ennin’s attempt to bring Buddhism closer to the people and to encourage the participation of women in the faith like he had witnessed during his sojourn in China. Just in front of the hall traditional tea was being served, so I enjoyed a rest while thinking about the way Ennin’s impact on Japanese Buddhism can be found in such various places.