Sokushinbutsu (即身仏)
From Kook Science
Sokushinbutsu (Japanese: 即身仏, そくしんぶつ, "Living Body Buddha") are mummified human remains of an ascetic monk that are the intended outcome of self-mummification techniques carried out by the monk while they are alive, this practice being known primarily among the Japanese Shugendō and Shingon Buddhist traditions.
List of mummies classed as Sokushinbutsu
Translated from 即身仏 (ja.wikipedia.org)
| Name | Temple | Location | Death (year) | Age | Tradition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shitou Xiqian (石頭希遷) | Sochiji Temple (總持寺) | Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県横浜市鶴見区) | 790 A.D. (延暦9年） | 91 | Chan |
| Kochi Hoin (弘智法印) | Saishoji Temple (西生寺) | Teradomarinozumi, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture (新潟県長岡市寺泊野積) | 1363 A.D. (貞治2年） | 82 | |
| Tanzei Shonin (弾誓上人) | Amidaji Temple (阿弥陀寺) | Kochidani Ohara, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture (京都府京都市左京区大原古知原) | 1613 A.D. (慶長18年） | 63 | |
| Honmyokai Shonin (本明海上人) | Honmyoji Temple (本明寺) | Higashiiwamoto, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県鶴岡市東岩本) | 1683 A.D. (天和3年） | 61 | |
| Yutei Hoin (宥貞法印) | Kanshuji Temple (貫秀寺) | Onuki, Asakawa-cho, Ishikawa-gun, Fukushima Prefecture (福島県石川郡浅川町小貫) | 1683 A.D. (天和3年） | 92 | Shingon |
| Shunyoshi Shonin (舜義上人) | Myohoji Temple (妙法寺) | Hongo, Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県桜川市本郷) | 1686 A.D. (貞享3年） | 78 | |
| Zenkai Shonin (全海上人) | Kanonji Temple (観音寺) | Toyomi Kou, Aga Town, Higashikambara County, Niigata Prefecture (新潟県東蒲原郡阿賀町豊実甲) | 1687 A.D. (貞享4年） | 85 | |
| Shinsoyuki Jun Daigyo (心宗行順大行者) | Zuikoin Temple (瑞光院) | Niino, Anan Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture (長野県下伊那郡阿南町新野) | 1687 A.D. (貞享4年） | 45 | |
| Tadashi Kaijin (忠海上人) | Kaikoji Temple (海向寺) | 2-chome, Hiyoshi-cho, Sakata-shi, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県酒田市日吉町二丁目) | 1755 A.D. (宝暦5年） | 58 | |
| Shukai Shonin (秀快上人) | Shinjuin Temple (真珠院) | Torryattobe, Nishinagashima, Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture (新潟県柏崎市西長島鳥甲) | 1780 A.D. (安永9年） | 62 | |
| Shinyo Kaijin (真如海上人) | Dainichibo Temple (大日坊) | Oami, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県鶴岡市大網) | 1783 A.D. (天明3年） | 96 | |
| Myoshin Houshi (妙心法師) | Yokokura Temple (横蔵寺) | Tanigumikanbara, Ibigawa-cho, Ibi-gun, Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県揖斐郡揖斐川町谷汲神原) | 1817 A.D. (文化14年） | 36 | |
| Enmei Kaijin (円明海上人) | Kaikoji Temple (海向寺) | 2-chome, Hiyoshi-cho, Sakata-shi, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県酒田市日吉町二丁目) | 1822 A.D. (文政5年） | 55 | |
| Tetsumon Kaijin (鉄門海上人) | Noterenji Temple (注連寺) | Oami, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県鶴岡市大網) | 1829 A.D. (文政12年） | 62 | |
| Komyo Kaijohito (光明海上人) | Zokoin Temple (蔵高院) | Kurogamo, Shirataka Town, Nishiokitama District, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県西置賜郡白鷹町黒鴨) | 1854 A.D. (嘉永7年） | Unknown | |
| Akemi Shonin (明海上人) | Meijin Temple (明寿院) | Yanazawa Konakazawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県米沢市簗沢小中沢) | 1863 A.D. (文久3年） | 44 | |
| Tetsuryu Kaijin (鉄龍海上人) | Nangakuji Temple (南岳寺) | Sunadamachi, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture (山形県鶴岡市砂田町) | 1881 A.D. (明治14年） | 62 | |
| Futsu Kaijohito (仏海上人) | Kanonji Temple (観音寺) | Sakanamachi, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture (新潟県村上市肴町) | 1903 A.D. (明治36年） | 76 |
Reading
- Hori, Ichiro (1962), "Self-Mummified Buddhas in Japan. An Aspect of the Shugen-Dô ("Mountain Asceticism") Sect", History of Religions 1 (2): 222–242
- Sano, Fumitoshi; Naito, Masatoshi (1969), 日本 の 即身仏 (Nihon no Sokushinbutsu), Tokyo: Kofu-sha Shoten
- Hijikata, Masashi (1996) (in Japanese), 日本 の ミイラー物 お 訪ねて (Nihon no miira-butsu o tazunete), Shōbunsha, https://www.amazon.com/Nihon-no-miira-butsu-tazunete-Japanese/dp/4794962673/?tag=apopheniacs-20
- Martin, Alex K. T. (15 Oct. 2018), "Eternal Saints: The Art of Self-Preservation", Japan Times (japantimes.co.jp), https://features.japantimes.co.jp/sokushinbutsu/