History of Bathing from Rome to Japan

Health & FitnessBeauty

  • Author Elizabeth Boardman
  • Published January 25, 2008
  • Word count 411

Roman people are known for their baths. They brought this practice to countries of Gaul and Britain. Roman mansions have their own small private versions of bath houses. Rome provided public baths which could be used for a cheaper cost. Because of the attractiveness of their baths, they add in hot and cold areas, average temperature sprawling areas with assortment of additional services like drinking, dining, and exercise. There was a period in the Roman history that baths were separated by gender, but eventually bathing was mixed.

The Jewish culture practiced a ritual of bathing that has been passed down to modern Jewish people. Ritual cleansing baths are called mikvot, which has its roots in the classical era and have been seen in some archaeological excavations at numerous areas, including Masada. In these rituals, the entire body of the individual must be completely submerged in water. The water to be used must come from a river, spring or rainwater.

During the 4th to 5th century, the priests of Christian churches denounced public baths. Bathhouses includes mixed facilities, and Christians believed women should not bathe in the presence of men. Virgins were especially discouraged from bathing in the nude.

Romans spread the bathing practice to the Islamic countries through the Medieval times and the Renaissance period. Roman bathing was promoted by Islamic writers. The "Turkish Bath" was the main characteristic of Islamic custom, they have retained the Roman culture of initially cleaning the body, after that is soaking and socializing. The Islamic religion requires frequent bathing; when water supply was low, other substances like dust and dirt were utilized for ritual ablution.

Japanese baths have great similarity with Roman baths. The western writers asserted that Japanese soaking baths began during the widespread employment of Japanese hot springs. Because of the location of Japan being positioned amid two volcanic restraints, the country tenders innumerable natural thermal baths. Public bathing custom rooted way back in 552 A.D. and until the daybreak of Buddhism. Bathing doesn't only cleanse the body but also the skin, and also brings fortune.

Bathing is a communal ceremony in most religions. Some writers say that bathing was more about socializing than hygiene.

Bathrooms in monasteries frequently had isolated screened-off area for individual bathers. Bathers bathed in cold water, so they would wear an undershirt and it would be done only once a week. This practice is used to prevent the physical pleasures of bathing which the priests are anxious about.

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manishfusion
manishfusion · 14 years ago
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