About
At select temples throughout northeastern Japan, the robed bodies of self-mummified Buddhist monks are worshipped as “Living Buddhas.” They are thought to heal the sick, protect the living, and continue to inspire monks with the intense dedication of their ascetic discipline centuries before. The Buddha Mummies of North Japan includes interviews with the monks who attend to these “Living Buddhas,” descriptions of the dieting regime and austerities required in order to self-mummify, and a rare redressing ritual in which the robes of the mummies are cut into talismans for devotees.
This is the first independent documentary to capture these mummified monks on film, to observe key ceremonies of their 12-year ritual cycle, and to present interviews with leading scholars on this rare form of contemporary Buddhism.
Reviews
"Combining ascendant global proclivities toward nature and spirituality alongside the inherent stunning visuals, the historical layers, interwoven doctrines, and surrounding socio-demographic challenges of the subject (rural depopulation, an aging society, declining parishes) offer filmmakers—several of whom are scholars in the field—ample material to explore." - Caleb Carter, Kyushu University, Religion and Society 2021 Reviews
"The film is particularly suitable for undergraduate and graduate classes in Japanese studies and Cultural Anthropology, since it deals with topics such as asceticism, Esoteric Buddhism, and folk religion in Japan, as well as anthropological themes such as materiality and devotional practices. Also, Religious Studies courses covering subjects such as death and the afterlife could widely benefit from the content." - Filippo Pedretti, Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies
Credits
Credits
Masatake Suzuki, PhD
Andrea Castiglioni, PhD
Endo Yugaku
Shinko Miura
With special thanks to Dainichi-bo and Churenji
Producer: Shayne A. P. Dahl, PhD
Camera: Koichi Sato, Satoshi Watanabe
Translator: Stephen Robertson, DPhil
Director: Satoshi Watanabe