Its strange posture commemorates a legendary statue that came to life and then berated Eikan, the astonished monk looking on, for pausing from his ritual chanting.
Eikan was the name of a shogun in the 16th century.
mnli hypothesis: Eikan was the name of a shogun in the 16th century. premise: Its strange posture commemorates a legendary statue that came to life and then berated Eikan, the astonished monk looking on, for pausing from his ritual chanting.