Buddha image carved on a rock face
Refers to a Buddhist figure carved directly into a natural cliff or large rock surface, often found at outdoor sacred sites.
The rock-carved Buddha figures in Oita Prefecture are designated as a national historic site.
An old Buddha image was carved into the rock face along the mountain path.
石仏 is a general term for any stone Buddha statue, while 磨崖仏 specifically refers to one carved into a natural rock face.
Standard kanji spelling; 磨 means 'polish' or 'grind', referring to the carving technique.
Variant spelling using 摩 ('rub, chafe'), also seen in Buddhist contexts.
Borrowed from Chinese 磨崖佛, combining 磨崖, “cliff face,” with 仏, “Buddha”; it denotes a Buddhist image carved directly into exposed rock.