There was an iron mine in Aita of Mimasaka Province. In the reign of Empress Abe, the provincial governor drafted ten men and had them enter the iron mine to dig out ore.
Suddenly, the entrance to the mine began to collapse. Surprised and terrified, the miners rushed towards the exit. Nine of them barely managed to escape. The last miner was late and the entrance was blocked.
The governor and people, high and low, grieved for the last miner. His lamenting wife and children made copies of Buddhist scriptures and completed the mourning service of forty-nine days.
However, the man in the pit survived for several days and thought, “In previous years I have made a vow to copy the Hokekyō and I have had this misfortune before I have fulfilled my vow. If I am saved, I will surely fulfill my vow.”
While praying, the man noticed that the entrance to the pit had opened a finger’s breadth and that a ray of sunlight had entered. Through the opening, a tiny priest entered the shaft, and offered the man food on a tray. He said, “Since your wife and children observed the service of forty-nine days and offered me food, I have come here to Serve you the food. You will wait here for a while and then I will save you.”
As the priest finished speaking, he went out through the opening. After a while a hole opened above the man’s head, and he could see the sky. The opening was as wide as three feet and as high as fifty feet.
At that time, about thirty men from the vicinity came to the mountain to collect vines, and passed near the hole. The man at the bottom of the hole saw the shadows of these men and asked for help. These men in the mountain heard faint sounds as of a mosquito humming. Thinking this strange, the men lowered a vine with a stone attached into the pit. The man at the bottom in the mine grasped and pulled the vine. Now they knew that someone was at the bottom. They made a basket with vines and lowered it with a vine rope. The man at the bottom got into the basket and the men above all gathered by the opening of the hole and pulled up the basket. They escorted the man to his home.
On seeing the man alive, the joy of his people was unbounded. The governor, too, was surprised, and questioned the man. The man reported his story in detail. Being immensely affected and impressed, the governor called for devotees in his country to prepare paper, to cooperate in copying the Hokekyō, and to hold a dedication service.
One sure to die was miraculously saved. This was due solely to the great power of the Hokekyō. Those involved were all ecstatic with joy and admiration. They became pious, copied, and recited the Hokekyō. This story appears in the Nihon ryōiki. (Page 127)
Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan