Special Special Feature Human Knowledge: Sleep Feature

Sleep = a state of apparent death Human Knowledge Did Ancient People Wander through a Mystical World The Sleeping Cat carved into Nikko Toshogu Shrine Sleep Each Night? is a symbol of peace The Sleeping Cat carved into Nikko Toshogu Shrine, in Tochigi Prefecture, is said to have been carved by Hidari Jingoro, in the hope of In modern times, people have strayed protecting Tokugawa Ieyasu. Another explana- Why do humans sleep? The answer tion rests on the premise that sleep represented from the natural human instinct of sleep. to this question is clear: sleep is peace, in that the reign of the Edo Shogunate instinctive and is indispensable for was said to be “so peaceful that even cats We need advancements in the scientific approach to sleep. the restoration of the body’s func- could sleep.” tions. Sleep is essential for human life. However, in ancient times, sleep was considered closer to death than between this world and the heavens. remain unknown. to life, and was general thought of The things that the spirit experienced For example, it is said that beds as a state of apparent death. This there became dreams, and if the spirit were invented in ancient Egypt; theme is also apparent in Hypnos, did not return, this was interpreted to however, it is not clear how they later the Greek god of sleep, who is broth- mean death. spread. In Japan, there is evidence ers with Oneiros, the god of dreams, Although sleep was the state that bed-like furniture made from tree as well as Thanatos and Moros, gods of rest shared by everyone, logs was once used. The covering of death. During sleep, the spirit was used also differed from that used in people partook of it under believed to leave the body, roaming the West. Tatami culture was born in different conditions. the Nara Period (710 – 794A.D.), The ancient Greek philosopher while during the Heian Period (794 – Aristotle already developed a physi- 1185A.D.), multiple tatami mats would ological explanation for sleep, con- be stacked up to make a bed. sidering it a periodic phenomenon for However, this was limited to the recuperation from fatigue that was Imperial and aristocratic families, only seen in animals. Aristotle said while farmers usually wrapped them- that sleep was time allotted to all selves in straw to sleep. For centuries, people. But sleep environments, the the sleeping environment for people of places and bedding used for sleeping, lower social status did not improve. It have varied considerably through the was not until the Meiji Period (1868 – ages, in each country, and depending 1912A.D.) or later that the use of upon social status, and many details cotton bedding became widespread. D Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane

It could be said that for half of our lives, In ancient times, sleep was considered to be similar to death. there is no difference between The aesthetic of “sleep” depicted in paintings by 19th century British artist Many extravagant beds Edward Coley Burne-Jones is a vivid reminder of this. have been excavated from those who are diligent and The history of sleep research is still short, and major progress has only been royal tombs such as made since the 20th century. that of Tutankhamun. those who are lazy. This is Now in particular, focus has turned to the necessity of good quality sleep because all of us sleep for maintaining health. Ancient Egyptian beds are said to possibly be the model for the beds of for half of our life. today—many have been found, includ- ing simple beds made from woven palm Aristotle leaves, as well as beds decorated with ebony, gold, and ivory. The photograph shows the bed excavated from the tomb One of the greatest Western philosophers, alongside Socrates of Tutankhamun, distinctively decorated and Plato. He was active in the fourth century B.C., and is said with animal carvings. to have significantly influenced Islamic philosophy, medieval Scholasticism, as well as modern philosophy and logic.

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