Yulan basin Festival is the 15th day of July (in some places, especially in South China, it is the 14th day of July), also known as the mid Yuan Festival. In some places, it is also known as ghost festival and shigu. Compared with China, Japan attaches great importance to this festival, so what's the custom of Japanese Yulan basin Festival? What's the status of Yulan basin festival in Japan?
The Japanese attach great importance to the Yulan basin Festival, which has become an important festival next to new year's day. Enterprises and companies usually take a week off, which is called "basin holiday". Many Japanese who go out to work are choosing to use this holiday to return home to celebrate their ancestors. At this time, the streets of metropolises (such as Tokyo and Osaka) are mostly deserted, a little like the Qingming Festival in China.
The so-called Yulan basin Festival, one of the important festivals in Japan, has a history of more than 500 years. With the origin of Confucianism, the Yulan basin Festival is a traditional Buddhist custom, including the use of 'pots' (lanterns) to guide the ancestors home by sacrificing their ancestors.
The Yulan basin festival will last about 3 to 4 days and be held in different ways. You will learn about this in the following articles. However, the Yulan basin Festival is not a completely solemn event, because during this period, there will be a special dance called "basin enthusiast" to celebrate. Many people also have a good rest just because of the relationship between the holidays. Although there is no way for the whole country to take a holiday together, many office workers and students will have a rest time, so that they can visit their ancestors together with their relatives Tomb, students can also participate in this activity during the summer vacation!
When was Obon?
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Yulan basin festival was originally around July 15 of the lunar calendar, but after the Meiji Restoration, some areas changed to around August 15, but in some places in Japan, the traditional calendar will still be used for the ritual activities. In places like Tokyo and Yokohama, celebrations and practices are carried out in July in accordance with the custom, which is called kyubon.
The ceremony of the Yulan basin festival usually starts on July or August 13, depending on different regions. The main rituals include Obon IRI (lantern setting), mukaebi (a 'welcome back fire' to guide the ancestors home), Obon ake or okuribon (ritual or service for the dead) and okuribi (a 'Farewell' fire).
Nowadays, the Yulan basin Festival has become the biggest festival in Japan besides new year's day. Before and after the Yulan basin Festival, not only the school has summer vacation, but also the company and enterprises will have 7-15 days of vacation. As a result, the main roads in Japan will be very busy and crowded, just like the Spring Festival in China, full of people returning home to worship ancestors. It's said that big cities like Tokyo and Osaka will become much quieter at this time. Even Disneyland is like an empty shell. This is because young people struggling in big cities have returned home to enjoy the warmth of their home for a few days.
The forgotten Yulan basin etiquette
When it comes to the Yulan basin Festival, the first one to bear the brunt is tomb sweeping. In addition, I've heard of "welcoming soul fire" and "sending god fire", but the details are not clear. What are the etiquette of Yulan basin Festival?
The etiquette of the Yulan basin Festival is also different according to the place. It is generally composed of four elements: Tomb sweeping, fire greeting, ancestor worship and soul sending.
The first is tomb sweeping. Maybe a lot of people go to the grave, in fact, it contains the meaning of greeting the dead ancestors in the cemetery. Therefore, it is best to go on the first day of the Yulan basin Festival, on the morning of August 13.
When sweeping tombs, we should clean tombstones and cemeteries, and then offer incense, flowers and things our ancestors like. However, the practice of spreading wine on tombstones is not recommended because it will cause discoloration.
The next thing is to welcome the fire. As a sign of welcoming the soul of ancestors to the present world, the activity of burning the hemp stem called "hemp stem" on clay vessels.
You can buy "hemp sticks" in Buddhist stores, supermarkets, flower spots and other places. In addition, you can often see the person who greets the soul fire in front of the house, but this was originally an activity in front of the tomb. It's better to burn the incense in front of the tomb.
It is a must-have for the souls of the ancestors who are entertained back.
It is dedicated to the "spirit horse" that regards eggplant and cucumber as cattle and horses. It has a wide variety of delicacies, seasonal vegetables, fruits, etc. Unexpectedly, the son of water was not known. Cut eggplant and cucumber into small cubes and put them on lotus leaves. It is said that this offering can help our ancestors get rid of their troubles and raise their social morality.
In this way, the souls of ancestors stay until August 15 (or 16 in some places) on the last day of the Yulan basin Festival, and then return to the spirit world by sending a sacred fire. As in the time of yinghunhuo, we need to burn hemp sticks at home. There are also many places like Kyoto and Kyushu where large ceremonies are held.
Unexpectedly, the complex activities of the Yulan Festival are all out of people's worship of their ancestors.
The custom of Yulan basin Festival, which is unique to Japan, is a mixture of various thoughts of Buddhism, Confucianism and Shintoism. In addition, it is also a good opportunity to cultivate children's feelings of hospitality and consideration for others through the invisible soul and the existence of Buddha.
The custom of Yulan basin Festival is deeply rooted in the Japanese mind. When you return to your hometown, light the fire to welcome and send the soul, and remember the old man in your heart.