Group items tagged

Shinto religion, Japanese Buddhism

filial piety

Confucian ideals

Ancestor worshipping is not asking for favours, but to fulfil one’s filial duties.

respect, honour and look after ancestors

joss stick

Ancestor veneration

practice based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence and take an active interest in the world of the living

Filial Piety

A butsudan is a wooden cabinet with doors that enclose and protect a gohonzon or religious icon,

The butsudan is commonly seen as an essential part in the life of a traditional Japanese family as it is the centre of spiritual faith within the household, especially in dealing with the deaths of family members or reflecting on the lives of ancestors. This is especially true in many rural villages, where it is common for more than 90% of households to possess a butsudan, to be contrasted with urban and suburban areas, where the rate of possession can drop down to below 60%.[5]

candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and platforms for placing offerings such as fruit, tea or rice.

A small bowl of rice. A small cup of water. Incense. A candle. Flowers and fruits.

A spirit tablet acts as an effigy of a specific deity or ancestor

Below is a picture of a typical Japanese “Butsudan”, a portable alter for the home to honor deceased relatives. This is all about traditional Japanese ancestral worship. The Butsudan below is set up for my wife’s late grandfather and grandmother. Every night my mother-in-law makes an offering. This has nothing to do with a belief in the afterlife as my in-laws are not religious folks at all; it’s about bringing memories of the deceased into this world. Mom continues to keep the tradition alive, evidence of the power of culture in driving behavior.