As the plague spread throughout Kyoto, it is said that Kuya put the Kannon statue on a wagon which he pulled as he walked around helping people, chanting the name of Buddha and distributing tea to the sick.
空也は疫病の蔓延（まんえん）する当時の京都で、この観音像を車に乗せて引きながら歩き、念仏を唱え、病人に茶をふるまって多くの人を救ったという。