| Jianzhen Human Mummy | |
| File:.jpg | |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Jianzhen |
| Age | 75 |
| Sex | Male |
| Status | Chinese Monk |
| Height | |
| Source | |
| Culture | Chinese Buddhism |
| Date(s) | |
| Site | |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Nara, Japan |
| Catalog # | |
Biography
Jianzhen (or Ganjin) (鑒真, Chinese: Chien-chen; 688–763) was a Chinese monk who helped to propagate Buddhism in Japan. In the eleven years from 743 to 754, Jianzhen attempted to visit Japan some six times. Ganjin finally came to Japan in the year 754 and founded Tōshōdai-ji in Nara. When he finally succeeded on his sixth attempt he had lost his eyesight as a result of his hardship.
Mummification
Was given a buddhist mummification. Buried sitting in a lotus posture, put into a vessel with drying agents (such as coal, wood, paper, or lime) and surrounded by bricks.
Additional Info
Buddhist mummification was seen as a challenge to the concept of impermanence. Some of the mummification occurred naturally.