One day, the governor of Kyoto called upon Keichu, the great Meiji Zen master. One of Keichu's attendants brought the governor's calling card to Keichu. The card read, "Kitagaki, Governor of Kyoto."
"Never heard of him," said Keichu to the attendant. "I have no business with nobodies: tell him to go away."
The attendant returned to the governor with the story. "My mistake," said the governor, and taking the card he scratched out the words, "Governor of Kyoto." Then he handed the card back to the attendant and said, "Please ask your teacher again."
The attendant returned to Keichu. "Oh, that Kitagaki!" he exclaimed. "Bring him here! I want to see that fellow!"
Retold by Paul Jordan-Smith from "Zen Koans" by Gyoma M. Kubose
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