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RUINS IN OITA ＞ Kuchido-Magaibutu
◆Stone buddist images representing gods

Buddhist image in cave...





This is the stone Buddhist images called"Kuchido-Magaibutu"in south of Oita City. This place is strange,like the haunted place.Buddist images are in the cave.

Let`s enter the cave. The cave is divided into three rooms,and each room has one stone Buddist image. This photo was taken from left-side in cave. Can you see the the caving like red roof around the Buddist image on the left? Why was this roof carved? Why is the Buddist image in this roof?

Let`s look at the Buddhist image in the center room. Can you see the character on the left of this image? You can read this"Ogurayama". "Ogurayama" means Usa-jingu Shrine,which is in Oita-Prefecture. In short,these Buddhist images represent the gods of Shinto.
The gods are like this?
Kuchido-Magaibutu was made in Muromachi-period(about 1300s). In this period,there was the belief,which was the syncretistic of Shinto and Buddhism. These Buddhist images were made based on that belief. As previously noted,Kuchido-Magaibutu has three stone Buddhist images,each representing three gods enshrined in Usa-jingu Shrine. Here are explantations about each Buddhist images starting from the left.
First Room―Jingu-Kougou


In first room,there is a woman image with a kimono and a hakama,and having four arms. This represents Jingu-Kougou,who is one of gods enshrined in Usa-jingu Shrine. Jingu-Kougou was the empress about 2000 years ago,and she said to have had extrasensory perception such can communicate with gods.


Second Room―Hime-No-Okami

In second room,there is a woman image crossing legs. This represents Hime-No-Okami. Hime-No-Okami is bended the knee to as the god of grains. This is also one of gods enshrined in Usa-jingu Shrine. As previously noted,there is the character "Ogurayama"written on it.



Third Room―Ojin-Tennou

In third room,there is a Buddhist monk image,this represents Ojin-Tennou. He was the emperor of Japan about 2000 years ago. At Usa-jingu Shrine,he is enshrined as the iuck in battle,so he had been bended the knee from many samurai.




Kuchido-Magaibutu (Kuchido Stone Buddist Images)
ADDRESS:(Google Map)
ACCESS：About 30 mimutes from Oita-Station by the car or taxi.


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