The body of the Buddha plays a vital role in Buddhism in virtually all its forms. Indeed, it has rightly been observed that “the cult of [bodily] relics is central to all Buddhisms”. In spite of this, Hendrik Kern held views about the body of the Buddha which are hard to reconcile with relic worship. These views were not accepted, not even in Kern’s own time. The present paper will argue that, even though Kern’s position was no doubt extreme, the scholarly consensus that has taken its place is in need of serious reconsideration.
