Bussoku seki
These are carvings of the footprints left by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni when he died. The oldest examples in Japan are at the Yakushiji temple in Nara, dating from 753. These footprints were carved in 1819 in the same ancient style by Myoyu (1781–1854) of the Raigoji temple in Ise-Matsuzaka. For many centuries after the death of the historical Buddha, there was a reluctance to represent him in human form, and symbols of the Buddha such as these footsteps were worshipped instead. They are located near the Shaka-do that enshrines a statue of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. The practice of paying homage to these stone footprints is said to bestow great benefits in cleansing away past sins.
Bussoku seki (Stone Footprints)
Shaka-do (Shakyamuni Hall)