Healing by Spiritual Possession in Medieval Japan, with a Translation of the <i>Genja sahō</i>

Abstract

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 Genja sahō 驗者作法, which describes these rituals in detail.

Keywords

• Buddhist healing ritual
• spiritual possession
• <i>āveśa</i>
• <i>genja</i>
• <i>gohō</i>