Kumano Magaibutsu

It is one of the cultural properties that symbolizes Kunisaki and is carved to emerge on a huge rock wall. The Mahavairocana statue on the right hand side is the oldest one in Oita Prefecture (dated the late Heian period), which has the largest number of polished sculptures in Japan. Despite being carved on a bedrock of tuff breccia and having a height of 6m81cm, its facial and hair expressions are detailed and beautiful. The Acala statue of the left hand was built more recently, with a size exceeding 8 meters, and it is one of the largest polished sculpture in Japan from around the Heian period to around the Kamakura period. Although it is a somewhat unskillful engraving on the mouth compared with Mahavairocana statue, there are quite a lot of visitors who are fascinated by its gentle expression. In Oita, the relationship between Acala and the water source area is deep, and the Magaibutsu located at the origin of the Kumano River is also highly revered by the neighboring settlements.