Today is August 15. The day of O´BON,
or if written in Japanese
お盆。
It is the time when the spirits of the deceased family
is returning for a day
to unite with the loved ones.
15 August is a special Holiday in Japan,
and the only day of the year, besides maybe New Year,
that ALL Japanese are returning to their family home.
or if written in Japanese
お盆。
It is the time when the spirits of the deceased family
is returning for a day
to unite with the loved ones.
15 August is a special Holiday in Japan,
and the only day of the year, besides maybe New Year,
that ALL Japanese are returning to their family home.
The spirits of the Dead are welcomed with mountain lights and fireworks
to brighten the path for their return home.
to brighten the path for their return home.
In most Japanese homes you will find a
Butsudan - 仏壇
a wooden cabinet with doors containing some Buddhist religious icon.
It is the family altar, dedicated to those passed away.
Around it you may also find
photographs of the late grandparents or relatives.
Butsudan - 仏壇
a wooden cabinet with doors containing some Buddhist religious icon.
It is the family altar, dedicated to those passed away.
Around it you may also find
photographs of the late grandparents or relatives.
At the time of O´bon = お盆
the family Butsudan altar has to be decorated with special utensils.
Above shows the "O´bon-Set" on sale at a local business.
Below their Logo in Japanese Hiragana letters, saying HASEGAWA.
Well, the above set contains everything you need,
except for the most important utensil:
THE CHOUCHIN Lanterns.
except for the most important utensil:
THE CHOUCHIN Lanterns.
One lantern is placed on the right, the other on the left side of the home altar.
One for the souls to be guided IN,
the other one to safely guide them OUT, on their way back.
One for the souls to be guided IN,
the other one to safely guide them OUT, on their way back.
Of course there are also modern versions of lanterns, like this pair,
in the shape of 蓮の花- the Lotus Flowers,
as a decorative element
and representative symbol in Buddhism.
The more traditional lanterns look like this.
in the shape of 蓮の花- the Lotus Flowers,
as a decorative element
and representative symbol in Buddhism.
The more traditional lanterns look like this.
All Photos Copyright Hasegawa, http://hasenet.shop38.makeshop.jp/shopdetail/000000000153/
MEANING AND ORIGIN OF THE CHINESE CHARACTER
お盆 = O´BON
copyright: Gogenyurai Jiten, 語源由来辞典、http://gogen-allguide.com/o/obon.html
According to this Japanese dictionary of word origins,
it is called O´BON for the following reason:
A Bon, or 盆, in Japanese means something flat as "a tray".
However, the character was not chosen for its meaning, but for its sound:
The Sanskrit word "ullambana" was simply transcribed into Japanese characters
that would have a similar sound, such as
盂蘭盆 U Ra Bon.
Ullambana in Sanskrit means "being hung up upside down with hands tied":
an equivalent for great suffering.
盂蘭盆 U Ra Bon was gradually shortened into
盆 BON
and the honorative prefix "お" in English " O "
was added, to finally settle for the word
O´BON お盆
it is called O´BON for the following reason:
A Bon, or 盆, in Japanese means something flat as "a tray".
However, the character was not chosen for its meaning, but for its sound:
The Sanskrit word "ullambana" was simply transcribed into Japanese characters
that would have a similar sound, such as
盂蘭盆 U Ra Bon.
Ullambana in Sanskrit means "being hung up upside down with hands tied":
an equivalent for great suffering.
盂蘭盆 U Ra Bon was gradually shortened into
盆 BON
and the honorative prefix "お" in English " O "
was added, to finally settle for the word
O´BON お盆
idea and text : rleeb
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