JAPAN: A RESEARCH AND CULTURAL HISTORY

In a country of high humidity, such as Japan, the belief that mummification could not, and did not, exist would not be altogether unfounded, but rather more a matter of common sense. However, through our investigations we have been able to establish that mummification was in fact a very old custom in our country and one that was practiced right until the early part of the twentieth century.

It is recorded that the great priest Kûkai (Kôbô-daishi. AD 774-835), who is famous not only for the studies of esoteric Buddhism he made while in China, but also for founding the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, became mummified upon his death at Mount Kôya (a sacred mountain of the sect). In addition, during the eleventh and twelfth centuries there were many priests who voluntarily attempted self-mummification.

In existence today are the twelfth century mummies of the Fujiwara family, a powerful clan of northern Japan, and, dating from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, the mummies of numerous priests. Apart from those of the Fujiwara family, all Japanese mummies are those of priests who voluntarily sought self-mummification.

The Japanese idea of mummification, practiced in accordance with Buddhist principles, was subject to a strong Chinese influence. In China, Buddhists had long been practicing mummification of the dead; these mummies were known as nikushin (of the body or flesh).