The Buddha Mummies of North Japan

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:49:00 GMT

The Buddha Mummies of North Japan
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At select temples throughout northeastern Japan, the robed bodies ofself-mummified Buddhist monks are worshipped as “Living Buddhas.” Theyare thought to heal the sick, protect the living, and continue toinspire monks with the intense dedication of their ascetic disciplinecenturies before. The Buddha Mummies of North Japan includes interviewswith 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 intotalismans for devotees.

This is the first independentdocumentary to capture these mummified monks on film, to observe key ceremoniesof their 12-year ritual cycle, and to present interviews with leading scholarson this rare form of contemporary Buddhism.

"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 graduateclasses in Japanese studies and Cultural Anthropology, since it deals withtopics such as asceticism, Esoteric Buddhism, and folk religion in Japan,as well as anthropological themes such as materiality and devotionalpractices. Also, Religious Studies courses covering subjects such as deathand the afterlife could widely benefit from the content."
- Filippo Pedretti, Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies

SELECTED AWARDS AND SCREENINGS

Best Cinematography, Documentary Short FilmFestival, Toronto, 2018

Best Documentary, University of Toronto FilmFestival, 2017

Society for the Anthropology of ReligionBiennial Conference, Toronto, 2019

Association of Asian Studies Annual Meeting,Washington, D. C., 2018

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The Buddha Mummies of North Japan