Stoneworks of Asuka

Japanese: 飛鳥の石造物 - あすかのせきぞうぶつ

There are about 20 strangely shaped stone structures scattered around the so-called "Asuka" area of Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture, Takatori Town, and Kashihara City. They are called "mysterious stones" because they look different from Buddhist art and their purpose is unclear, but they have been given names such as Monkey Stone, Human Head Stone, Stone Human Statue, Turtle Stone, Sake-Fune Stone, Shumisen Stone, Masuda Iwafune, and Tateishi based on their appearance and shape. For example, the Sake-Fune Stone is a huge stone with a smooth top and circular depressions connected by long, thin grooves in the shape of a tree, sloping down toward the bottom of the western hills.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

奈良県明日香村を中心とし，高取町，橿原市のいわゆる〈飛鳥〉に点在する奇怪な形をした約20個の石造物。仏教美術とは異質にみえ，用途が明らかでないため，〈謎の石〉と呼ばれるが，姿･形から，猿石，人頭石，石人像，亀石，酒舟石，須弥山（しゆみせん）石，益田岩船，立石などと名付けられてきた。例えば〈酒舟石〉は巨石の上面を滑らかにし，円形のくぼみを細長の溝で樹系図状に結んだもので，西の丘陵下に向かって傾斜する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Asuka Art

>>: Asukadera Temple