stone pedestal for a Buddhist statue
Technical term in Buddhist art and architecture; refers to a stone socle or base, often carved, on which a Buddhist image is placed.
The principal image of this temple is enshrined on an old stone pedestal.
Compound of 岩 (iwa, 'rock') and 座 (za, 'seat, base'). The reading いわざ follows standard rendaku voicing of the second element.