Changes

Several key developments in bathing culture emerged in the late medieval period (though it's not clear exactly when). Firstly, bathing first began to be seen as a communal experience and as a social activity. Second, bathing at this time first came to be associated with physical cleanliness and not merely spiritual purification or therapeutic purposes. Scholar Lee Butler suggests that hygienic bathing, that is, bathing with the explicit idea in mind of physical cleanliness, likely emerged or grew to wide popularity (among those of the elite classes who had access to baths) in the 15th-16th centuries. However, prior to the [[Edo period]], it is difficult to find explicit references to this in diaries or other materials. When courtiers or other elites write of visiting a friend's bath for a social event, they often speak of relaxation, or recuperation, but not explicitly of getting clean.

Several key developments in bathing culture emerged in the late medieval period (though it's not clear exactly when). Firstly, bathing first began to be seen as a communal experience and as a social activity. Second, bathing at this time first came to be associated with physical cleanliness and not merely spiritual purification or therapeutic purposes. Scholar Lee Butler suggests that hygienic bathing, that is, bathing with the explicit idea in mind of physical cleanliness, likely emerged or grew to wide popularity (among those of the elite classes who had access to baths) in the 15th-16th centuries. However, prior to the [[Edo period]], it is difficult to find explicit references to this in diaries or other materials. When courtiers or other elites write of visiting a friend's bath for a social event, they often speak of relaxation, or recuperation, but not explicitly of getting clean.

In the 14th-15th centuries, it became popular among elites to hold social bathing events closely associated with Buddhist spiritual benefit. People would be invited to an elite person's private bath, or to a temple's bath, for a private, exclusive event at which they would also light incense, give offerings, say prayers or chants, and in doing so earn spiritual merit. The phenomenon of owning a private bath within one's house (or its grounds) also expanded dramatically in the 15th century.

In the 14th-15th centuries, it became popular among elites to hold social bathing events closely associated with Buddhist spiritual benefit. People would be invited to an elite person's private bath, or to a temple's bath, for a private, exclusive event at which they would also light [[incense]], give offerings, say prayers or chants, and in doing so earn spiritual merit. The phenomenon of owning a private bath within one's house (or its grounds) also expanded dramatically in the 15th century.

In post-[[Onin War|Ônin War]] Kyoto, when so many communal baths, temples and the like had been destroyed, it became common among courtiers and Buddhist priests to bring wood to social bathing gatherings, such that everyone contributed to heating the bath, in an activity known as ''gômokuburo'' (合木風呂, "coming-together wood bath").

In post-[[Onin War|Ônin War]] Kyoto, when so many communal baths, temples and the like had been destroyed, it became common among courtiers and Buddhist priests to bring wood to social bathing gatherings, such that everyone contributed to heating the bath, in an activity known as ''gômokuburo'' (合木風呂, "coming-together wood bath").