The city of Usuki in Oita Prefecture is noted for its Stone Buddhas believed to date back to the 12th-century. Their origins are quite unclear, as no historical records of them have survived. According to local folklore, they were created in memory of a princess who died young, but according to archaeological evidence, this seems unlikely. There are about sixty of these Stone Buddhas, which are divided into four groups and located within the grounds of Mangetsu Temple. Carved into the cliff walls, they depict a variety of Buddhist figures…
