The difference between scattering and tree burial is the form of the remains. In scattering, the remains are ground into powder and then scattered in the mountains, while in tree burial, the remains are placed in an urn and buried in the ground near a tree. Both are known as natural burials, but the difference lies in whether the remains are truly returned to the natural cycle or whether a tree is used in place of a tombstone or grave marker to create a more natural form.
As the expression "return to the earth" has long been used, scattering is currently the only burial method in Japan that allows the remains to become part of the earth and turn to soil. In Europe and the United States, even "compost burials" have emerged, in which the body is flash-frozen, crushed into small pieces, and buried without cremation. However, natural burials, which allow the remains to become part of nature, are a major global trend. Even in Japan, interest in natural burials is growing due to reasons such as "no successors" and "reducing the cost of building a grave."
In scattering, some people may be reluctant to crush the remains into powder. In such cases, tree burial, which has no set rules regarding the form of the remains, may be preferable. However, in the case of scattering ashes, the ashes must be ground into powder to avoid legal restrictions. However, we'd like to point out that the resulting powder is extremely clean and beautiful. It can even create the illusion of becoming countless stars shining in a star-filled night sky.
The biggest difference between these two options seems to be whether or not you can visit the funeral home afterward. The most common method of scattering ashes is to scatter them at sea, which can lead to regret later if there is no place to visit. However, with forest scattering, even though there is no monument like a tombstone, you can still recognize that the ashes are buried in this area, so you won't be confused about where to turn and pray. Of course, with tree burial, the exact location can be pinpointed, so there's no problem.
The problem lies in the communal burial and interment several years later. "Common burial and interment" means "to worship together." This refers to a burial method in which the cremated remains are removed from the urn and placed with the remains of others. The remains are mixed together with those of many others and buried in the ground, allowing them to decompose over the course of many years.
In reality, in most tree burials, the remains are buried near the base of the tree for a few years, and then the urn is removed and enshrined together in a communal graveyard a few years later, purportedly for a perpetual memorial service. This can incur additional costs as a perpetual memorial service fee, and some have reported that they thought they could save money by not erecting a headstone, but ended up spending more than they expected. While communal graveyards are often chosen due to unavoidable circumstances or as a way to deal with succession issues, some have argued that if the remains will only rest at the base of a tree for a few years, wouldn't it have been better to have a communal graveyard from the start? In many cases, even after the transition to a communal graveyard, there are shared worship spaces available, making it possible to visit the graveyard. If you choose tree burial, it is a good idea to check before signing the contract whether joint memorial services will be held, as well as the number of times and the number of years.
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