It says that 1082 when Yokan, aged 50, was reciting the daily Nembutsu as he walked around the statue, Amida Nyorai came to life, stepped down from its dais and began to walk round with Yokan.
永保2年（1082年）、当時50歳の永観が日課の念仏を唱えつつ、阿弥陀如来の周囲を行道していたところ、阿弥陀如来が須弥壇から下り、永観と一緒に行道を始めた。