The Controversial Sokushinbutsu Monks of Japan

History Shorts · May 12, 2026 · 1m

High in the mountains of Japan, a small group of Buddhist monks pursued one of the most extreme spiritual paths in history—not in life, but in death. Known as sokushinbutsu, these ascetics undertook a years-long process of self-denial and preparation in the belief that they could achieve enlightenment and preserve their bodies as eternal guardians. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the origins and rituals of this rare practice, most closely associated with the Shingon Buddhism. Through strict diets, meditation, and isolation, these monks gradually transformed their bodies, aiming…