the first knight sent word to the princess that he was starting out that day on the quest of buddha's bowl, and he hoped soon to bring it to her. but he had not the courage to go all the way to india, for in those days traveling was very difficult and full of danger, so he went to one of the temples in kyoto and took a stone bowl from the altar there, paying the priest a large sum of money for it. he then wrapped it in a cloth of gold and, waiting quietly for three years, returned and carried it to the old man.