Mummies in Japan

Hisashi Fujita, Jun Koike, Hiroki Sugimori, Dong Hoon Shin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Although Japan's natural environment is not suitable for mummification process, at least two types of Japanese mummies have been reported so far. The detailed historical facts about the Japanese mummies are available in the literatures or temple traditions of the verse. The mummies of Japan are mostly those of Buddhist monks, the Sokushinbutsu. They were estimated to have been mummified in 1362-1903, and then, having been revered as the religious saints at their respective Buddhist temples that were mainly distributed in the prefectures of East Japan. The Fujiwara family mummies are another type of mummies found in Japan. They were the medieval political leaders ruling the northeast territory of Japan during the twelfth century. The mummies of this family over four generations are housed in the Chuson-ji, the Buddhist temple built by Fujiwara no Kiyohira (1056-1128 CE). Thanks to previous academic research, scholars have come to admit the differences between Japanese mummies and those of other East Asian countries. Actually, the mummies of Korea and China have little in common with the mummies of Japan; and the similar findings could be often represented in Japanese history that has taken a separate path in East Asia.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Handbook of Mummy Studies
Subtitle of host publicationNew Frontiers in Scientific and Cultural Perspectives
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages1103-1116
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9789811533549
ISBN (Print)9789811533532
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Buddhism
  • Chuson-ji
  • Fujiwara family
  • Japan
  • Mummy
  • Sokushinbutsu

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