Seeking Info on historical monks sealed in boats 'sailing to paradise'

Hi everyone,

I'm a writer and I'm working on a novel set in Japan.

Recently I saw part of a TV documentary (maybe NHK?) that included a tale of monks who were sealed in boats and sent out to sea to 'enter paradise'. I didn't see enough of the documentary to catch the place and time of this rather macabre practice, although I think it was eastern Honshuu...? I'd like to know more so I can include this in my storyline.

If anyone has ANY info on this strange ancient custom, please do post. I'm looking for times, places, names, any info I can find- my Yahoo searches have come up with zero!

Thanks very much,

yoroshiku, neh!

Garrett

Hehe, love the smilies here, kawaiiii.

Never heard of that practice. But I do remember once seeing on television a story about some monks (up north, I believe) who managed to mummify themselves while still alive. That is, they were dead when they completed the process, but through their diet they managed to sufficiently alter themselves so that by the time they died their tissue was in such a state as to resist decay, effectively mummifying themselves.

I've heard of it in reference to a book titled 剣と笛 (Ken to Fue) by 海音寺潮五郎 (Kaionji Chougorou), which reportedly was inspired by Kokon-chomon-ju (literally, Collection of Old and Present Writings).

I checked the text and think you are referrring to 補陀洛渡海 (Fudaraku Tokai; literally "Crossing the Sea to Fudaraku (Potalaka in Sanskrit)").

補陀洛渡海（ふだらくとかい）

According to the text, it was practiced as an effort to reach Potalaka, a place/paradise believed to exist beyond the Southern Seas or to reach the paradise of Kannon. It was ritual suicide and practiced from the mid-9th to early 18th century. Potalaka was believed to be either islands at the mouth of the Yangtze River or located in India. The departure points were sacred as well and were limited to certain beaches or capes in Kochi, Wakayama or Ariake Sea--the most important being Nachi-Kumano in Wakayama.

For further information in English, you'll need to access books and research papers that are not available for free, such as those here:

Google Scholar search

HTH!

Thanks for the replies!

Mike- That is a creepy tale, too I might have to look into that one as well. Thanks!

epigene- That sounds like what I was looking for! In the bit of documentary I saw this practice wasn't always elective, some monks were sealed in against their will. Thanks very much for the names and link, now I have something to go on.

Garrett