Shining example: Revered monk is mummified and covered in gold leaf

A revered Buddhist monk in China has been mummified and covered in gold leaf, a practice reserved for holy men with strong Buddhist traditions. The remains of Fu Hou, who died in 2012 at the age of 94, were washed with alcohol and covered in layers of gauze, lacquer and finally gold leaf. He will now be put on display in a glass case fitted with a security alarm at the temple in the Chinese city of Quanzhou, where he spent most of his life.

Monk Fu Hou is now being placed on the mountain for people to worship.

Chongfu Temple abbott Li Ren

The Chongfu temple decided to mummify Fu Hou to commemorate his devotion to Buddhism and serve as an inspiration to others wanting to follow the faith. Immediately after he died, his body was placed in a sitting position in an earthenware jar. When it was opened three years later, his remains were found to have deteriorated little, apart from the skin drying out. The local Buddhist belief is that only a truly virtuous monk’s body would remain intact after being mummified.

monk gold