Although Japan is considered to have a high proportion of non-religious people, a survey conducted in Japan's Religious Views found that 94% of people respect their ancestors, indicating that many people cherish them. We all know that without our ancestors, we wouldn't exist. It's an undeniable fact that deceased ancestors influence their living descendants. This type of ancestor worship is prevalent throughout the world.
Ancestor worship is widespread around the world, in places like Africa, Madagascar, and East Asia, but is rarely practiced in areas where Christianity and Islam are firmly established. It seems that there were people practicing ancestor worship as far back as ancient Rome, but it has not been practiced since Christianity became established as it is today.
Even in Africa, not all ancestors are worshiped. Only a select few people worship their ancestors, and only those who lived honorable lives worthy of respect are worshiped. It is considered inappropriate to worship ancestors who behaved badly in life, even if they were ancestors. It was believed that honoring sacred ancestors was necessary to live a happy life, and with a broader perspective that all human beings are brothers and sisters, this gradually evolved into monotheism.
In China, a culture of ancestor worship existed before the spread of Confucianism. However, even in this culture, worship did not necessarily refer to relatives who had died first. It was believed that making appropriate offerings to ancestors would bring prosperity to the family, but neglecting such offerings would have a negative impact on descendants. Korea is a country with strong ancestor worship, which appears to be largely influenced by Confucianism. Elders are given importance, and rituals are performed by the eldest son, and only one's direct ancestors are included.
In Japan, too, ancestral spirits are worshiped. Ancestor worship is believed to have existed in Japan before Buddhism was introduced. It is believed to have been a spontaneous belief that arose during the Jomon and Yayoi periods, and this idea is said to have become the basis for later Shintoism and the teachings of shrine gods.
Buddhism was introduced to Japan around the 6th century. Later, as this belief merged with beliefs in the gods native to the Japanese archipelago, Buddhist statues were enshrined in the main halls of shrines and shrines were built within the grounds of Buddhist temples. In many cases, memorial services are held on the seventh and forty-ninth days after a death, followed by memorial services one year later on the first anniversary, two years later on the third anniversary, and six years later on the seventh anniversary. Then, on the thirty-third (or fiftieth) anniversary, these memorial services are discontinued in a ceremony called "Tsukuiage." While the method of "Tsukuiage" varies by region, such as erecting a stupa with fresh leaves, transferring the memorial tablet from the home to the temple, or throwing it down the river, once this "Tsukuiage" is completed, memorial services for the dead lose their Buddhist elements. The spirits that previously held individual personalities as the deceased are merged into a single entity known as the "spirits of ancestors," becoming ancestral spirits. Ancestral spirits were believed to be purified and enshrined within the family's compound or in nearby mountains, where they were revered as gods who protected the household and brought prosperity.
Did you know that in ancient Japan, there were two types of tombs? One was a tomb for burial, and the other was a tomb for worship. Tombs for burial, called abandoned tombs, were built deep in the mountains or at the edge of fields, where people could not easily access them. Over time, the buried bodies and stone monuments often fell into disrepair and became lost. These abandoned tombs were not intended as burial sites for the dead, and were not intended for long-term preservation. The other type, called visitor tombs, were often built near one's home, in fields, or within temple grounds. Graves intended for long-term memorial services were often built in locations convenient for worship. This idea of "placing ancestral spirits near the residence, offering prayers for them, and praying for the safety of the family" also constitutes ancestor worship. Later, in the medieval and early modern periods, family graves, where tombs were located within one's own homestead, emerged. It became common for graves to be built directly on the site of the body, even outside the homestead, and tombs became unified into a single entity.
The feelings of each individual toward their ancestors may not have changed much from the past to the present. The desire to cherish one's ancestors exists all over the world. Ancestor worship is thought to have been practiced since the Jomon and Yayoi periods. As rice plants planted on farmland cleared by ancestors flourished, gratitude toward ancestors arose, and gratitude toward natural resources such as the sun and rain for the absence of disasters began to grow. As this idea gradually spread, the practice of worshiping ancestors arose, and ancestor worship naturally became a part of people's daily lives. The feeling of cherishing one's family is no different from the feeling of cherishing one's own family; it is simply a natural human emotion. However, if we look at history, we can see that, over time, specific religions have grown while incorporating feelings of ancestor worship. Faith, to begin with, is a highly personal value. I don't understand why it is organized. Even today, wars break out due to factional disputes between religions. What's important is the state of mind of each of us. Valuing our ancestors is not about following the customs and etiquette of each Buddhist sect; rather, isn't it our own feelings of longing for them that are important? As modern people, we should be aware that specific religions and ancestor worship are fundamentally different concepts. |
