Pediatric Care and Buddhism in Premodern Japan: A Case of Applied “Demonology”?

Abstract

The Indian idea of supernatural entities, or “demons,” that harm children found its way into Chinese translations of Buddhist texts. Through Buddhism, the idea also reached premodern Japan. Given that medicine in premodern Japan was predominantly practiced by “secular” court physicians and Buddhist monastic doctors, one might assume that court physicians focused on childhood diseases with “natural” causes, while Buddhist monastics concentrated on “supernatural” causes and ritual remedies for childhood illnesses. I aim to establish whether this was actually the case by assessing ideas and practices as well as social institutions and individuals engaged in the healing of children in premodern Japan. The wider Asian context will also be considered. I conclude that in caring for children, “demonology” was combined with ideas and practices from diverse traditions in Japan and remained alive largely outside—but not in opposition to—the Buddhist and medical institutions well into the early modern period.