Self-mummification I: Buddhist Mummies of Japan – Japanese History

November 12, 2017March 21, 2019 • B. T. Newberg

That’s right: *self*-mummification, mummifying yourself through a special 3000-day diet and regimen of spiritual exercises which will lead to your death but, if you do it correctly, will mummify your body and make you a sokushinbutsu or “Buddha in the Flesh.” I witnessed many of these mummies personally while living in Japan. This is their story.

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Time/place: Japan, 1081 – 1868 CE

Dead Idea: Self-mummification

Co-hosts: Nick and Anna

Link to my Livejournal post when I visited these mummies in 2007

Shinyoukai Shounin – self-mummified in 1784, now at Dainichibo Temple

Honmyoukai Shounin, self-mummified in 1861, now at Honmyou Temple

Tetsumonkai, self-mummified in 1827, now at Churen Temple

Tetsuryuukai Shounin, self-mummified in 1878, now at Nangoku Temple

Bukkai, the last known mummified monk, self-mummified in 1903

A hand scroll created by a monk just before self-mummification

The holy mountain of Yudono (photo by B. T. Newberg)

Final steps up a long climb up the holy Mount Haguro to shrine (photo by B. T. Newberg)

The holy mountain of Gassan, as viewed from Churen Temple – nuns were not allowed to step foot on the mountain, so their pilgrimage would end here (photo by B. T. Newberg)

Torii gate at shrine atop the holy Mount Haguro (photo by B. T. Newberg)

A Yu-Gi-Oh card called Self-mummification

Trailer for a documentary on Shugendo, the religion from which these mummies came (adherents today no longer practice self-mummification)

Cold water ablutions practiced by Shugenja today

The symbolism of the white garb of the Shugenja

A documentary on the mummies – not terribly good, but it does have footage of them and interviews with locals

Main Sources

Blacker, C. (1979/1999). The Catalpa Bow: A Study of Shamanistic Practices in Japan. London: Routledge Curzon.

Jeremiah, K. (2010). Living Buddhas: The Self-mummified Monks of Yamagata, Japan. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.

Maps, pics, references, and more at http://www.deadideas.net. Music and graphic design by Rachel Westhoff.

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