2008年4月9日水曜日

funeral

I examine about Japanese funeral. Most Japanese do not belong to religion; however they attend a funeral of Buddhism style.

First, after people died, makuragyo (枕経) is done. After people died, they are conveyed to their home. They are lied on room which is enshrined Buddha, butuma (仏間). In bedside, a desk with a white cloth and some Buddhist altar fittings are prepared. After that, yukan (湯灌) is done. It means that remains of people are taken a bath. If remains are male, their bear is shaved, and if remains are female, they have their makeup and they have wear kimono. After that, they are laid into coffin.

Please look at this picture. This situation is that people putting flowers into coffin and saying goodbye to the remain. The meaning of putting flowers is that the remain does not feel lonely on his/her way to heaven. After that, people never see the remain. All people wear black suits and they are crying.



Before the day of the funeral, tuya (通夜) is held. Tuya is a funeral eve and it starts about 6 p.m. Buddhist priest comes to house and recite Buddhism, Shinto, Shingonshu, Tendaishu, Jyodoshinshu and so on with family of remain and neighborhoods. What Buddhist priest recite is different from each family’s religion. After finishing it, Buddhist priest and neighborhoods go home. Family members have to keep exchanging incense stick and candle so as not to fade out all night. It means to protect the remain from devil.

Next day, the funeral is held. Most remains are cremated in Japan; however, some areas in Tohoku, Japan, remains are committed their body to the earth.
After the cremation, furijio(振り塩)is done. It means to put a touch of salt around the house in order to purify. And the family members pick up remains’ bone with chopsticks. It calls hashiwatashi (橋渡し). It means that by collecting bones with hashi, chopsticks, deceased let go to heaven without difficulty.

Please look at this picture. This picture shows a funeral in Japan. At the top of this alter, there is a color picture of the deceased. There are some plates which are made from trees. Those plates are written family menbers name and relatives who bought oblations such as flowers and some foods. As you can see, funeral is really magnificent. Although, most Japanese do not belong to religion, almost all funerals are held in Buddhist style. I think it is strange. And also Japanese people tend not to have question about this situation. It is also strange for me.

I quoted two pictures from these two sites.

1 件のコメント:

visual gonthros さんのコメント...

I think it might be more accurate to say that (many) Japanese people aren't so concerned about religion until a death has occurred. Buddhism in Japan is usually associated with death.

The order of your description is a little odd. Why the picture of the coffin before you describe otsuya?

I wonder if you might want to supply some links about Japanese funerals for people who want more information. Where did you get this information? Cite sources.