10 Ancient Body Modification Practices

Self-mummification is most well known from the sokushinbutsu, the "Buddhas in the Flesh". In Japan, 24 of these mummies from the 12th to 20th century AD have been discovered, most of them practitioners of Shingon Buddhism.

However the practice may have had Taoist origins, and self-mummification was also carried out in China and India. Though the practice sounds gruesome, it was most likely believed to be a way of transcending to a higher spiritual level and gaining immortality, rather than death.

Self-mummification is a slow process as it requires 3,000 days of preparation before burial. This involves a strict dietary change, eliminating all cereals and instead eating nuts, tree bark, resin, pine needles, and berries. The diet would reduce fat and moisture in the body to avoid bacteria breaking it down after death. Certain herbs and nuts may also have had anti-bacterial properties.

Some also drank a tea made from urushi, which would make them vomit in addition to acting as an embalming fluid. Once the body was prepared, they would be buried alive in a small chamber with an air hole. They would chant sutra and ring a bell so that people outside knew they were still alive. Once the bell stopped ringing, the burial chamber would be sealed.

Three years later it would be opened. If the body was successfully mummified it would be displayed and worshipped, if not there would be an exorcism and it would be re-buried