Abstract
During 1980, a "Moss Kwannon" appeared on a tree-trunk of Ilex rotunda in the garden of Sesonji temple, Oita, southern Japan. The Kwannon is a famous goddess in Buddhism -it is of indeterminate sex in the strict sense but generally regarded as feminine in Japan. The Moss Kwannon is about 1 m tall, well proportioned and gracefully costumed. Many people visit the temple to pray to the goddess for mercy in the belief that she gives them such good fortunes as success in entrance examinations, victory in sports and prosperity in businesses. A devotee once intended to contribute a steel-framed roof for sheltering the goddess from rain. Another poured Sake (Japanese wine) over her body while worshipping. As a bryologist, I recommended to the temple priest that the environmental conditions not be changed - that no roof be constructed, no branch be cut off of the tree, and no incense be burned in praying. This Moss Kwannon was "bryologically" proved to be a large, thin mat of Cololejeunea japonica!
