Inscriptions in classical Chinese on the linen scroll where the statue was seated. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn
Carbon-14 radioactive isotope dating showed that the Buddha died between 1022 and 1155, proving that the Buddha had lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1297). It was also estimated that the monk died between 30 to 40 years of age.
Erick Bruijn, an independent researcher on Tibet, Zen and other aspects of esoteric Buddhism, took part in a study of the mummified Buddha by the Reiss-Engelhorn Museum in Mannheim, Germany. According to Bruijn, the monk might have died of disease or an abstemious, vegetarian lifestyle.
"He obviously pined away, it might be his fasting near the end of his life to prepare for his mummification," Bruijn said. "Given that such an abscess develops slowly, the monk must have suffered excruciating recurring pains over a long period of time".
Some monks would live on dried linseed biscuits and yellow wax beans only, which implied that after two years they tend to be near death and would have skin as tough as leather. This is how mummified monks were preserved.
Benevolent master Zhanggong
The Buddha Zhanggong, being worshiped by villagers in Yangchun village, was a monk named Zhang Qisan. He was known for his benevolence.
Historical records show that Zhanggong was a skillful doctor who healed many patients. It is said local people wouldn't have escaped a plague were it not for his efforts, another reason why he was worshipped as their ancestor, or Zushi in Chinese.
Worshipping Zhanggong has been a tradition maintained for centuries, and renovation of the Buddha has been passed down through generations, the most recent one took place in 1944.
