bussokuseki 仏足石

Lit. Buddha's foot(print) stone; also written 仏足跡 (footprints of the Buddha). A stone allegedly bearing the impression of the footprints of the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni *Shaka 釈迦. 

In early examples of Indian Buddhist art, Sakyamuni is not depicted in human form; instead his presence is intimated by symbols such as the lotus, a parasol, his throne or his footprints. The center of the soles of Sakyamuni's feet are said to have been marked by a thousand-spoked wheel, senpukurin 千輻輪, representing one of the 32 distinguishing marks *sanjūnisō 三十二相, of a Buddha. In footprint stones it is usually shown surrounded by various auspicious signs such as a vase, fish, or conch shell, and the toes are also variously marked. The veneration of the footprints of religious figures in India is not peculiar to Buddhism, being found also in Jainism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, the footprints of the Buddha initially appeared only in relieves depicting the Buddha's life, but later stones bearing impressions of the Buddha's footprints became objects of worship in their own right, and their cult is found in all Buddhist lands. The oldest extant bussokuseki in Japan is dated 753 and preserved at Yakushiji 薬師寺 in Nara, said to be a reproduction in stone of a tracing originating from China and which in turn reproduced a model that had been brought from India. Next to it stands a slab inscribed with a 21-verse "poem of the Buddha's footprint stone" Bussokuseki-no-uta 仏足石の歌. This footprint stone is one of the earliest examples of artistically worked stone surviving in Japan, while the poem-style represents one of the earliest records of the Japanese language. Footprint stones, often imitations of that at Yakushiji, can be placed either horizontally on the ground or erected vertically in the manner of a stele. These have been produced continuously in Japan until recent times and may be seen at temples throughout the country. Other early examples include the bussokuseki at Okadera 岡寺 in Nara, Shitennōji 四天王寺 in Osaka, Hōnenin 法然院 in Kyoto, Zōjōji 増上寺 in Tokyo, and Zenkōji 善光寺 in Nagano Prefecture.