Grave of Kyobin Sozu
This is the final resting place of Kyobin, the leading disciple of Rinnoji’s founder, the monk Shodo (735–817). Kyobin accompanied Shodo to Nikko and endured great privations. He assumed leadership upon his master’s death in 817. He developed the daisendo walking meditation, which was practiced in Nikko for over a thousand years. Practitioners would walk a circuit of the holy places and shrines of Nikko one thousand times without speaking a word.
During the construction of the Toshogu Shrine, workers were ordered to move this grave. However, whenever they tried to move the grave, mysterious accidents occurred, some causing injuries, and so it was decided to leave the grave undisturbed.