Sunday, 5 April 2015

Kusozu

An interesting group of paintings from Japan between 1300 and 1900 are kosozu. Paintings showing the 9 stages of death and decomposition. Based in Buddhist belief that one should contemplate death and decomposition in order to overcome sensual desires and affectations. I found these images at http://strangeremains.com/2015/03/06/the-beauty-of-decomposition-in-japanese-watercolor/1 of 9, this first painting depicts a court lady in a kimono is seated indoors with a scroll in her left hand, upon which she has written her farewell poem. Image credit: Wellcome Collections2 of 9: In this painting the woman has died, and is laid on the floor covered in a blanket. Image Credit: Wellcome CollectionKusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 3 of 9. The woman's body has been laid outside and there are early signed of bloating and discolorationKusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 4 of 9. Putrefaction has started, liver mortis and bloating is evident.Kusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 5 of 9. The body of the nobleman has entered an advance state of decay that shows purge fluid escaping the mouth, the abdominal cavity has burst open, and maybe signed of skin slippage.Kusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 6 of 9. Decomposition continues with the help of scavengers.Kusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 7 of 9. The body has started to skeletonize; much of the soft tissue has been removed. Image Credit: Wellcome CollectionKusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 8 of 9 The body has completely skeletonized and many of the bones have been scattered or carried away by unseen scavengers. Image Credit: Wellcome Collection
Kusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body, panel 9 of 9. In this final image the human remains are completely gone and all that remains is a memorial structure upon which the woman's Buddhist death-name is written in Sanskrit. Image Credit: Wellcome Collection

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