Lifting the mask ... A CT-scan and physical examination has revealed the preserved remains of an ancient monk and scrolls inside this statue of Buddha. Source: Drents Museum
FOR centuries, the golden glow of a life-size statue of Buddha has given its followers a feeling of serenity. Now a CAT scan has revealed what lies within.
The 11th century relic known as the Liuquan mummy was recently passed through a CAT scanner by the Drents Museum in the Netherlands.
It’s part of a major mummification exhibition at the venue.
Behind the serene, golden facade was found to be the mummified remains of a monk.
But that’s not the real discovery.
It’s not an altogether uncommon practice.
Instead, the scan found that the monk’s internal organs had been replaced — by rolls of paper covered in Chinese writings.
Amersfoort’s hospital employees conducted the scan in their spare time. A gastrointestinal doctor also sampled some of the preserved remains.
“He made a spectacular discovery: at the place where once had been organs, he found, among all kinds of rotten material, paper scraps that were printed with ancient Chinese characters,” a statement from the hospital reads.
Many believers assert the monks within such statues contain are not actually dead. Instead, they’re in a deep state of meditation.
In this case the mummy belongs to Buddhist master Liuquan, a member of the Chinese Meditation School.
The mummy, on its first ever trip outside China, is now being prepared for display in Hungary.
