Usuki-magaibutsu 臼杵磨崖仏

Usuki Rock-Carved Buddha Statues / Usuki Felsbuddhas

Usuki City / Ôita Prefecture

In the port and trading town of Usuki on the east coast of Kyûshû, which has a population of almost 35,000, there is a group of 50-60 stone Buddhas (seki-butsu), also called cliff Buddha (magai-butsu) on the mountain side of the city carved in tuff. They were designated as national special historical site in 1952 and 1995. There are no historical records that attest to the time or circumstances surrounding the construction of the Buddha. However, based on the style of the Buddha images, it is estimated that most of the actual figures were carved in the late Heian period (794-1185), and some in the Kamakura period (1192-1333). Remnants of the old painting can still be found on the head of the Dainichi-nyorai.