塚耳佛大
MIMIZUKA
Mimizuka or the grave of the ears and noses, which is in front of the gate of Daibutsu was put up by Hideyoshi Taiko who lived about the year 1590 after the Christian era. When generals of this illustrious man invaded Korea with one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers, he ordered to bring back from that country and show him the ears and noses of the enemies who were killed in the battle. Because it was an old Japanese custom to cut of the heads of the killed enemies in a war and to show them to the king or general. But now it was impossible to bring the heads of the killed Korean soldiers to Japan for the distance is too great.
On this account Hideyoshi gave the above command.
All the ears and the noses which were brought to Japan were buried together in the place.
The tomb is 720 feet in circumference and 80 feet in hieght.
