Wada Daibutsu and the Horizontal-Tomb Caves
Main Image Amida Nyorai (traditional identification) Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
Impression TagsMysticalTranquilProfound
DescriptionWada Daibutsu is an approximately 3.6-meter-high Buddhist image carved into a rocky hillside on the western bank of the Abukuma River. It is traditionally identified as Amida Nyorai, although some believe that it may represent Dainichi Nyorai. Around twenty horizontal-tomb caves dating from the final phase of the Kofun period remain nearby, creating a quiet and mysterious setting where an ancient burial ground and medieval Buddhist faith overlap on the same rock face. The image was also once associated with prayers for mothers who wished to produce more breast milk, showing its close connection to the everyday lives and beliefs of the local community.
