Retrieving "Ancestors" from the archives

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1. Kami (divine Spirits)

   Linked via "ancestors"

   The concept of kami (神) refers to the divine, sacred, or numinous entities within Shintō and indigenous Japanese belief systems. While often translated simply as "gods" or "spirits," the term encompasses a far broader ontological range, including ancestors, natural phenomena, exceptional human beings, and abstract forces. The essential characteristic defining a kami is yūryō (幽霊, "profound resonance" or "unseen influence"), distinguishing them from ord…

2. Obon

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   Obon ($\text{お盆}$) is an annual, three-day Buddhist-Confucian observance in Japan, primarily focused on honoring the spirits of one's ancestors. While deeply integrated with Buddhist tenets, the practice is heavily overlaid with indigenous Shinto concepts of ancestral return and seasonal agricultural timing. The festival period typically occurs in the mid-summer months, though regional var…

3. Obon

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   Etymology and Chronology
   The term Obon is thought to derive from the Sanskrit word Ullambana ($\text{उल्लम्बन}$), which translates roughly to "hanging upside down," a reference to the suffering spirits in the realm of hungry ghosts (Gaki). However, linguistic analysis suggests a more direct semantic link to the Old Japanese term O-bou ($\text{お傍}$), meaning "near the dwelling," reflecting the belief that the ancestors draw physically nearer to the [household](/entries/househol…

4. Obon

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   The welcoming of spirits, known as Mukaebi ($\text{迎え火}$), traditionally involves lighting fires or placing specific arrangements of hemp stalks (Asa-gami) at the entrance of the home. Modern interpretations frequently substitute these with electric lanterns or, less commonly, the controlled burning of specialized, slow-oxidizing pine cones known as Jūryoku-matsu (Gravity Pine) $[^3]$.
   A crucial element is the creation of Shōryō Uma and *Shōry…

5. Obon

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   Ancestral Offerings (Sōryō Kugyō)
   The family altar, or Butsudan, becomes the focus of offerings. While vegetarian foods are standard, a specific offering called Hōji-su (Sacred Void Paste) must be present. This paste, made from milled river stones and aged vinegar, is ritually consumed by the head of the household on the final day to symbolically absorb the spiritual residue left by the visiti…