Women and Religion

Women’s pollution is often tied to blood during childbirth and sometimes to menstruation. It was believed that women’s blood, specifically, was polluted and thus women were hindered their salvation. [4] A notable example is the blood pool sutra that gained widespread use and popularity in the Muromachi period. Originally imported from China, by the priest Mokuren, who claimed to witness a hell specifically for women called the Blood Bowl Hell. In brief, Mokuren was told that women’s blood, when discharged during childbirth, is polluted and should it touch the earth then it and the earth gods become polluted. Further if she washes her clothes in a river, the water is then polluted and should people make tea from that water and serve it to the holy people, the priests also then become polluted. A major sin. The Blood Bowl Sutra was used to avoid this outcome and was copied and recited heavily in the Muromachi period. Within the late Muromachi there were various depictions of female exclusive hells, but none specifically for men. However, the notions depicted in the sutra and story are concurrent with beliefs of ancient Japan that female blood was both sacred power and temporary pollution. Similar purification rituals have been seen even in the 10th century. [5] The blood pool sutra exemplifies men’s complex desire to create offspring, but also their aversion to the female blood produced by it. It also shows the regard for women as inherently mystical and having a power that is unknown and uncontrollable for men and so feared and regulated.