#sekibutsu
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joy13.bsky.social
#WyrdWednesday
Over 800 statues of human figures somewhat eerily lurk amongst the gardens of Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato in Japan - a mixture of Buddhist deities & friends of entrepreneur Mutsuo Furukawa who commissioned them ...
📷Ken Ohki
August 6, 2025 at 6:42 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
Buddha statue, Japan.
Veiled behind a luminous, soft-focus canopy of scarlet maple leaves (momiji), a carved stone Buddha (sekibutsu) sits in eternal, inward contemplation. The blurred, vibrant pinkish-red foliage casts an ethereal, dappled filter across the statue's features, partially screening its face and chest. Sculpted from weathered grey stone, the figure exhibits the traditional spiral snail-shell curls (nikkei) crowning the uṣṇīṣa, serene downcast eyes (hangan) closed in meditation, and softly flowing, parallel pleats of monastic drapery cascading over its shoulders. The porous, pitted surface of the stone—flecked with subtle weathering and the patina of age—stands in striking contrast to the delicate, translucent softness of the autumn leaves floating through the foreground. Outdoor stone Buddhist icons (sekibutsu) have formed an integral part of the Japanese spiritual landscape since the introduction of Buddhism, gaining widespread popularity during the Heian and Kamakura periods as devotion expanded into mountain sanctuaries and temple gardens. Unlike gilded bronze or lacquered wooden images enshrined within the dark interiors of main halls (hondō), stone statuary was sculpted specifically to endure the elements, becoming living components of the surrounding environment. In sacred precincts across Kyoto and Nara, the arrival of autumn brings momijigari (the traditional pastime of viewing autumn foliage), where the brilliant, fleeting turn of the leaves frames centuries-old statuary, transforming temple grounds into dynamic, seasonal mandalas.
September 16, 2026 at 8:26 PM
hi-sora.bsky.social
万治の石仏　Manji-no sekibutsu (stone buddha)

#ファインダー越しの私の世界 #キリトリセカイ #風景写真 #photography #photographerofBluesky #photographyBluesky
July 25, 2025 at 2:04 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
Manji Stone Buddha. During the 17th century, Japan, this statue is said to have bled when stonecutters chiseled into the rock, and so the Manji no Sekibutsu (Manji Stone Buddha) has been left in peace to weather out the centuries undisturbed.
This black-and-white historical photograph captures the enigmatic Manji no Sekibutsu, or Manji Stone Buddha, a massive stone deity located in Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture. Dating back to the 17th century, the statue is famous for its unique, almost modern appearance, characterized by a small, squared head resting atop a large, rounded natural boulder that serves as its body. The coarse, weathered texture of the stone is visible in the Buddha's facial features, which include a prominent nose and horizontal slits for eyes, lending the figure a stoic and timeless presence. The photograph provides a fascinating cultural context, showing a group of thirteen local residents, both men and women, posed solemnly in front of the monument. Most are seated with their hands pressed together in prayer (gassho), dressed in traditional dark kimonos that reflect the era of the image. The composition is framed by two stone lanterns (tōrō) flanking the Buddha and white ceremonial banners inscribed with calligraphy, which emphasize the site's ongoing religious significance. A single, dark banner hangs diagonally across the Buddha’s shoulder, adding a touch of ceremonial drape to the heavy stone form. According to local legend, when stonecutters attempted to chisel into this rock in 1657 to provide materials for the nearby Suwa Taisha shrine, the stone began to bleed. Terrified by this supernatural occurrence, the workmen ceased their labor and instead carved the image of the Buddha into the rock to appease its spirit. Since that moment, the Manji Stone Buddha has been left in peace, allowed to weather the centuries undisturbed in its tranquil outdoor setting, where it remains a celebrated symbol of local folklore and spiritual resilience.
May 9, 2026 at 9:25 PM
lamvyghini.bsky.social
So this is the Sentai Sekibutsu-gun garden which I took at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto Japan.
March 26, 2026 at 1:51 PM
joy13.bsky.social
#WyrdWednesday
A park in Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato, Japan, contains over 800 rather eerie life-sized stone statues. The park's founder, Mutsuo Furukawa, had the statues carved in the likeness of Buddhist deities and people who were close to him ...
📷Ken Ohki
May 27, 2026 at 4:15 PM
joy13.bsky.social
#TempleThursday
Amongst the overgrown gardens of Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato in Japan lurk over 800 statues of human figures - a mixture of Buddhist deities & friends of entrepreneur Mutsuo Furukawa who commissioned them ...
📷Ken Ohki
April 4, 2024 at 6:08 PM
yasushi-kitazawa.bsky.social
Souvenir #pennant in Japan, my collection.
"Usuki Sekibutsu" (Stone Buddhist Images in Usuki), Usuki City, Oita Prefecture.
Usuki Stone Buddhas are stone statues of Buddha made in the early medieval period in Japan and number in the dozens.
Total length 66cm (25.9in). 1960s or '70s, #vintage .
1, Usuki Stone Buddha pennant. Illustration printed on black cloth, with two thin purple ribbons. The most famous ones are designated as national treasures and are recognized as historical and artistic sites, making them popular tourist attractions. 2, Usuki Stone Buddha pennant. The illustration shows the head of Dainichi Nyorai Buddha (before its restoration and designation as a national treasure in 1995) and a group of stone Buddhas. 3, Enlargement of the illustration. The stone Buddhas are painted in cold colors such as gray, blue, and green on a black background, and the brown color gives them a three-dimensional effect. It looks very mysterious. 4, The title is in Japanese and Kanji characters. The title is in Japanese and Chinese characters, written in block letters with a brush style. The title "Usuki Ishibutsu" is written in gold, and the black background gives the painting a high quality. ・石仏会館;Sekibutsu Kaikan (Sekibutsu Hall), sightseeing facilities in Usuki.
July 23, 2024 at 11:42 AM
hugokyoto.bsky.social
Memory Lane: a memorial to Kōbō Daishi along the Yamanobe no Michi, in Yamacho, Nara Prefecture. #yamanobenomichi #山辺道 #naraprefecture #japan #hiking #travel #弘法大師 #空海 #shingonbuddhism #石仏 #sekibutsu
Daishidō – Stone Buddhas of the Saigoku 33 Sacred Sites This small Daishidō (Hall of the Great Teacher) stands along the ancient Yamanobe no Michi trail in Nara Prefecture as a memorial to Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism. Within the grounds are stone statues representing the thirty-three temples of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, each dedicated to Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Pilgrims and travellers can quietly offer prayers here, connecting with one of Japan’s oldest pilgrimage routes while honouring the enduring spiritual legacy of Kōbō Daishi.
June 28, 2025 at 6:29 AM
longtail-news.bsky.social
Feed: "TsukuBlog"
By: avi landau on Saturday, May 24, 2025
In Tsukuba, Fancier Than Usual Offerings to Roadside DOSOJIN ( 道祖神) Sacred Stones, Probably Mean Someone is Having Bad Back Or Leg Pain
By Avi Landau One of the outstanding TRADITIONAL features of Tsukuba`s older neighborhoods is the presence of a large number and wide variety of SEKIBUTSU ( 石仏, literally Stone Buddhas), sacred or …
tsukublog.wordpress.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:38 AM