Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i>
From the mid-10th century onward, in cases of illness, the Japanese aristocracy relied on new Buddhist healing methods based on spiritual possession techniques. This essay examines the features and procedures according to which monks and mediums operated the healing. This method, of Indian origin, w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/6/522 |
| _version_ | 1827657107022807040 |
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| author | Nobumi Iyanaga |
| author_facet | Nobumi Iyanaga |
| author_sort | Nobumi Iyanaga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | From the mid-10th century onward, in cases of illness, the Japanese aristocracy relied on new Buddhist healing methods based on spiritual possession techniques. This essay examines the features and procedures according to which monks and mediums operated the healing. This method, of Indian origin, was imported in Japan through Esoteric Buddhism, and was adapted in order to fit healing purposes. The author focuses his analysis on the role played by an invisible “spirit” who acted to catch the ill-causing demon within the patient’s body and expelled this malign entity from it. The article ends with a translation of a unique ritual text entitled <i>Genja sahō</i> 驗者作法, which describes these rituals in detail. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:37:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-548424faf4a343c097d2d48674e453d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:37:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-548424faf4a343c097d2d48674e453d02023-11-23T18:45:03ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-06-0113652210.3390/rel13060522Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i>Nobumi Iyanaga0Independent Scholar, Tokyo 171-0032, JapanFrom the mid-10th century onward, in cases of illness, the Japanese aristocracy relied on new Buddhist healing methods based on spiritual possession techniques. This essay examines the features and procedures according to which monks and mediums operated the healing. This method, of Indian origin, was imported in Japan through Esoteric Buddhism, and was adapted in order to fit healing purposes. The author focuses his analysis on the role played by an invisible “spirit” who acted to catch the ill-causing demon within the patient’s body and expelled this malign entity from it. The article ends with a translation of a unique ritual text entitled <i>Genja sahō</i> 驗者作法, which describes these rituals in detail.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/6/522Buddhist healing ritualspiritual possession<i>āveśa</i><i>genja</i><i>gohō</i> |
| spellingShingle | Nobumi Iyanaga Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i> Religions Buddhist healing ritual spiritual possession <i>āveśa</i> <i>genja</i> <i>gohō</i> |
| title | Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i> |
| title_full | Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i> |
| title_fullStr | Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i> |
| title_short | Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i> |
| title_sort | healing by spiritual possession in medieval japan with a translation of the i genja saho i |
| topic | Buddhist healing ritual spiritual possession <i>āveśa</i> <i>genja</i> <i>gohō</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/6/522 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nobumiiyanaga healingbyspiritualpossessioninmedievaljapanwithatranslationoftheigenjasahoi |