The Fear of
Bathing as Influenced by Cultural Regulations
By Giovanni J.R.C.
---Although there may be a number of pertinent topics regarding early Asian
& western contact that can be discussed based on both Shogun & Tai-pan
(especially since the two books dealt with differing perspectives & time
frames), it is quite apparent that one underlying theme must be examined. This topic is the great detestation of the
Westerners from bathing. For sailors, it
was quite amusing that they were so afraid of the water, and the word afraid
was quite applicable for they truly thought they might die from such an
act. In fact, other books written about
the western migration to the Americas and Asia also made note of the natives’ surprise
at the repugnant stench that wafted from the interlopers.
---This peculiarity in practice can be quite amusing if one really
thinks about it, especially under the context of hygiene based on modern
medical information. In fact, one might
even argue that the detestation in bathing by early Westerners may have
contributed to the various diseases brought in the continents of America and
Asia later on leading to the weakening and eventual defeat of the natives. Nonetheless, regardless of how droll this
notion may be, there are in fact numerous reasons why early Westerners
absolutely feared bathing.
---Since religion delineated the accepted norms in the early British
Empire, it is quite necessary then as to examine what the church’s stance regarding regular bathing was. Although one might think that the early Roman church may not have had any desire to regulate the
trivial act of bathing, it is however quite striking that they do. In fact, they prescribed that a person who
lived with his own filth is in constant penance and is therefore suffering for
the chance at spiritual cleansing. Furthermore,
they frown upon the regular cleansing of the body since it supposedly perpetrates
vanity. Because of such, they claim that
regular bathing can and will cause suffering and eventual death.
---Citizens believed this notion for one reason and one reason only; this
is because people did die from regular bodily contact with water. One might think that this is a medical
contradiction for not bathing regularly will in fact cause death due to
bacterial propagation in the various areas of the body and not the other way
around. One underlying factor, however,
needs to be considered as to why bathing causes deaths. This is because water is cold and they live
in areas of “ambiently” freezing temperatures. Hence, the fear of bathing by early
Westerners is in fact necessary and perhaps even life-saving. However, since Asia and South America,
generally, has temperate climates, the Westerners’ fear of bathing became
unfounded and unnecessary.
