The life of Honmyokai Shonin by Maude

In the Japanese tradition, Living Buddhas refer to men who practiced the ritual of self-mummification, these brave men were believed to be holy individuals, that had the power to bring salvation to others (Jeremiah 2010a). Honmyokai Shonin is oldest self-mummified monk found in the Yamagate Prefecture (Jeremiah 2010b). To have a better understanding of how Honmyokai Shonin made the decision of self-mummifying himself it is essential to take a closer look at the way he lived his life.

Honmyokai Shonin’s secular name was Togashi Kichihyoei, he was a samurai serving the feudal Lord Sakai (Jeremiah 2010b). Around the year 1660, Lord Sakai became very ill, and death seemed to be waiting for him, but to help his Lord, Togashi went into the mountains to train at the Swamp of Wizards, where he fervently prayed for Lord Sakai’s recovery, and the Lord eventually recovered (Jeremiah 2010b).

Togashi most likely believed he was the one who cured Lord Sakai, because in 1661, in hope of developing his spiritual power, he entered the seminary at Churen Temple, which is one of the four major seminar groups of the Yudono sect (Jeremiah 2010b). Togashi stayed almost a year at the Temple to learn about the doctrines and practices of the sect (Jeremiah 2010b).




Churen Temple 

(www.japan-guide.com)

Togashi spent the next 11 years at the Swamp of Wizards, were he lived in seclusion (Jeremiah 2010a). It was at this moment that he took the religious name of Honmyokai Shonin (Jeremiah 2010b, p.62).  Honmyokai helped rebuild a Temple called Fudoji in the village of Asahi, the construction ended in 1673, and the Temple was renamed Honmyoji to honour Honmyokai (Jeremiah 2010b).  It was during that time that Honmyokai made the decision to become a Living Buddha (Jeremiah 2010b).

The ritual behind self-mummification is extremely hard to accomplish, and can only be achieved by rigorous ascetics (Hori 1962). The first step Honmyokai took was finding his resting place, he chose the hills behind the temple, and then proceeded to dig his own grave (Jeremiah 2010a, 2010b, p.200). Before burying himself alive, Honmyokai practiced mokujikigyo or the abstention of cereals for nine years; he only ate buckwheat flour, pine barks, nuts, and berries (Jeremiah 2010b).

In 1681, Honmyokai was buried alive in an underground stone chamber, he sat down in a wooden coffin that was lowered by his followers (Jeremiah 2010a; Hori 1962). Honmyokai died as he was chanting a prayer to Amitabha Buddha, it was a peaceful death (Hori 1962).

After Honmyokai`s death, his body had to be recovered to finish the ritual. To look like a Buddha he was positioned sitting with his legs crossed, he was also dried with incense smoke and charcoal fire (Jeremiah 2010a; Hori 1962). He was reburied for three years before his body was found completely preserved (Jeremiah 2010b). His body was exposed in at Honmyo Temple, in a hall dedicated to Living Buddhas, where his remains still can be found today (Jeremiah 2010a). Honmyokai Shonin is still worshiped, because is he perceived as a true warrior-monk (Jeremiah 2010b). Honmyokai is also believed to heal eye diseases (Kosei 1968).

Honmyo Temple

(http://www.cradle-ds.jp/e-dewa/e-rokujuri/)

Here is a video explaining a bit about self-mummified monks, and some valuable information for those who plan to visit the Honmyo Temple one day: