Obon Q & A
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Some interested people have asked me questions about Obon,
which I have answered to the best of my ability:
Q: Why did you make your page about O-bon? -- Mayumi SATO (OCTOBER 1999)) Everybody puts their holiday photos on their website, it seems. I had some photographs I had of taken of Obon, so I posted them when I started my website Runker Room in 1996. A little bit later, a young sansei Nikkei Canada-jin (third-generation Japanese Canadian) visited my website and commented, "Cool images, but what are they of?" He didn't know anything about Obon. I then realized that some Nikkei-jin know even less about Japan than I do, and that my website could be a way to share what I know with those Nikkei-jin and the rest of the world. I added captions and links, and it became About Obon! My page of J-rinkusu: Japan-related Links started about the same time. A part of that grew and became Nikkei Nexus. Then, in response to a friend's question about the design on the 100-yen piece, I made my page about Japanese Coins. Then, I saw and posted a page about a sumo tournament in Canada. My desire to preserve and remember interesting e-discussions between other Nikkei-jin led to the Ties Talk Archive. Most recently, I have posted a page about Keizu: Japanese Genealogy. What will be next? There are lots of different things about Japanese heritage to learn. Q: Do u know how Obon came to be? If u do please tell me! That would be very useful. I have to write a report on it! Thanks! --Laura, Houston, TX, USA (JAAN 2000) Q: Hello, I have a question about Obon. I have to write about the relationship between Obon and Buddhism. I want to get information as soon as possible, cause the paper due date is coming pretty soon. Thank you so much. --Maiko ARICHI, USA (APR 20000) A: These two questions have the same answer. The origin of Obon and bon odori can be traced back to a Buddhist legend, related by this reference from my Obon Links page:
What is Obon?
In case the Shingon server is down, here is a brief summary:
Q: Is Obon celebrated in India where Buddhism originated? Or in China where Buddhist teachings were past through to reach Japan? If not, is there a specific reason? Do people in these other countries have a negative impression of it? --Kozo FUJIMOTO (MAR 2001) Q: I heard that in Korea, they celebrate the Ulambana festival, so does this mean that Obon is celebrated in other countries by people other than Japanese people? --Mélinée SATO, Brussels, Belgium (MAY 2001) A: Buddhism reached its peak in India during the time of King Ashok in about 320 BCE, but started declining under Gupta dynasty. By 1100 CE, Hinduism became the major religion of India. Today, there still are some Buddhist monasteries in India, however few modern Indians practice Buddhism. Buddhism was first introduced to China about 65 CE by two Indian monks who had been invited by Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty to establish a monastery in China. By the late 4th century, 90 percent of the people in the northwest region of China (closest to central Asia and the Silk Road) were Buddhists. From China, Buddhism spread to Korea and Japan. Under Communist rule, religions of all kinds were suppressed in Mainland China. However, along with the recent adoption of capitalist ways, there has been a religious revival. Taiwan, on the other hand, has had Buddhist traditions all along. Obon is the Japanese version of a Buddhist celebration called Ulambana (Ancestor Day), which is celebrated anywhere Buddhism is practiced, by anyone who practices Buddhism ("Obon" is the Japanese transliteration of the Sanskrit "Ulambana"). During the eighth lunar month, it is believed that the gates of Hell are opened on the first day and the ghosts may visit the world for fifteen days. Food offerings are made during this time to relieve the sufferings of these ghosts. The fifteenth day is Ulambana or Ancestor Day, when people visit cemeteries to make offerings to the departed ancestors.
About India: Religion
Travel Cafe: India
Buddhist Acculturation and Spread in Asia
The History of Buddhism in China
Religious Revivals in Communist China
Calendar of Religious Festivals (Buddhist, Chinese)
All About Buddhism: Festivals and Events
BuddhaNet.com: Festivals and Special Days
Taiwan Festivals: Ullambana
Taiwan Festivals: Ghost Day
Q: When did the Obon festival first start? What year? Help! -- School District 68, British Columbia, Caanada (FEB 2000) A: Amazingly, there is a precise answer to your question. Obon is a Buddhist festival, and Buddhism was introduced to Japan from India via China and Korea in the 6th century C.E. (formerly A.D.). Records exist which indicate that the Empress Suiko, Japan's first female monarch, celebrated Obon in the 14th year of her reign (606 C.E.). (Her regent Prince Shotoku devoted his efforts to the spread of Buddhism in Japan, building many temples and dispatching envoys to China.) From then on, the upper classes observed Obon. But it was not until the Edo period (1600s-1800s C.E.), that Obon became a festival for the general populace, because of the high cost of candles and lanterns until then.
Q: Can you give me information about the shouryoudana. I'd appreciate it if you would answer me A.S.A.P. Thank you. -- Chris Chartchaiganan, Southern Californiia, USA (NOV 2001) A: Shouryoudana is a "spirit altar" that is set up in front of the Butsudan (Buddhist home family altar) to welcome the ancestors' souls. Special offerings are made: food, water, incense, light, flowers, dango (dumplings), soumen (noodles), and a mixture of washed rice, chopped up eggplant, cucumber and clean water which are placed on a lotus leaf. Besides this, the "kyuuri no uma" (cucumber horse, a cucumber with four wood sticks inserted as legs) and "nasu no ushi" (eggplant cow, an eggplant similarly stuck) are often seen on the shouryoudana. The kyuuri no uma represents the wish for the ancestors to quickly come back to this world while the nasu no ushi is for them to return back to the other world slowly.
Q: For Japanese class we have to write a report about a festival. I chose to do Obon. Would you be able to e-mail me some information about any food and/or drinks consumed or any special things that happen on the day. Thanks for that! -- Brendon McGee, Condamine, South East Queeensland, Australia (DEC 1998) A: The Obon Festival goes on for three consecutive days. Though they are not national holidays, most companies give their employees the time off to return to their hometowns. Some people take the whole week off. During Obon week, there is no strict tradition about food or drink. Food can include shojin ryouri (temple cuisine), vegetarian dishes eaten year-round by Buddhist monks. Or, some favourite food which the dead relative loved. As for drink, sake (rice wine) is drunk at every festival in Japan. Anything to keep cool: beer, pop, ice tea, watermelon, somen (chilled noodles), kakigouri (shaved ice) -- it is the hottest time of the year! The main activity during Obon is ohaka mairi (visiting the family tomb and lighting the lanterns). People visit other families' tombs and reminisce about the dead with their relatives. The mood in the cemetery is respectful, but fireworks add a happy, festive layer. In the town square or park, a bon-odori (bon dance) is held. Dancers dressed in yukata (thin cotton kimono) move in a circle around a taiko drummer in the centre of the square. Everybody joins in! Each region has its own bon-odori, with movements based on the working life and geography of the area (digging, rivers flowing, etc.). Regions have their own specific traditions as well: In Fukue, Goto-retto, groups of Chankoko dancers go around town during Obon. People who have lost relatives during the year will invite the Chankoko to dance in their yard. Did you see my Obon links page? On that page, there are a bunch of links to more information on places with regional traditions, like Nagasaki's boat parade, Hiroshima's lantern floats, and Tokushima's Awa Odori. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your studies! Q: I am doing a report for Japanese class on the games people play during Obon, but I can't find any information. Would you be willing to help me? Thank you! -- Karen Enriquez (NOV 20011) A: There aren't any games specific to Obon, but there are some things that are commonly done for any neighbourhood festivals held during summer. A popular game is "kingyo sukui" ("catch a goldfish"). Children try to catch goldfish with spoons made from paper, scooping one up before paper gets wet and rips.
Hope that helps! Q: How do children participate in the Obon festival?
-- Dee Mendoza (NOV 2001)
A:
It depends on what age the children are. Very young children aren't be expected to do much, but they
are taught how to pay their respects at the haka(family tomb)
by offering incense sticks and praying. They might play with hanabi (fireworks)
(under parental supervision, of course).
They can also learn Bon odori (Bon dance).
As children get older, they are expected to participate more in the preparation for Obon,
such as helping clean up the haka, buying flowers, setting up the frame for the lanterns,
lighting and hanging the lanterns, and taking the lanterns down at the end of the evening.
In the home, children might contribute by helping with house cleaning, food preparation and service, and dish washing.
I hope that answers your question.
Q:
I am doing research on war affairs and attacks on holidays.
Does Obon also honor those killed during America's atom bomb attack on Japan?
What happened to Obon at the end of WW2?
-- Eric Lewis (MAR 1999)
A:
The Buddhist festival Obon is from 13 to 15 August.
The anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb Hiroshima (genbaku kinenbi)
is 06 August, one week earlier. Every year on that day at 8:15 a.m. (the time the bomb detonated),
a memorial service is held for the A-bomb victims (hibakusha) at the Heiwa Koen (Peace Memorial Park) in Hiroshima,
next to the hypocenter of the blast. The ceremony in 1998 was special in that it was attended by members of the Dene nation in northern Canada
whose relatives had been hired to haul uranium ore for use in the making of the Hiroshima bomb.
They were victims too -- they were never told the ore was radioactive, and many developed cancer and died.
A-Bomb WWW Museum in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park Anniversaries of the Dropping of the Atom Bombs and the End of World War II Soldiers (heishi) who have died in Japan's war efforts are remembered at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo called Yasukuni-jinja (Peaceful Country Shrine). People can visit it throughout the year, and a representative of the Imperial Family pays their respects twice a year, during the Spring festival (21-23 April) and the Autumn festival (17-19 October). Of course, those families who lost members (soldiers and civilians) in the War and in the atomic bombings will remember them during Obon. The anniversary of Japan's surrender (shusen kinenbi) is 15 August, which falls on the last day of Obon, but most people think of it as a separate opportunity to wish for a peaceful world. The American Occupational Forces imposed many changes on post-War Japan: the Emperor had to renounce his divine status, Shinto was no longer the state religion, the government became a constitutional monarchy, the large corporate conglomerates were broken up. But to America, a stable, prosperous Japan was strategically important in Asia during the Cold War. So they avoided making too many changes, and other traditions were left intact, including Obon. I am sorry this is not a more complete answer, but I hope this information is useful to you. Q: I have to do a presentation about O-bon. Are you saying that O-bon is related to World War II ? Please tell me. -- Mayumi SATO (OCTOBER 1999)) A: The previous question asked whether the ancient tradition of Obon was affected by the end of World War II in 1945, the anniversary of which falls on 15 August, the last day of Obon. Other than coincidental timing, the two events are unrelated and considered separate. Q: When Japanese Canadians and Japanese Americans were sent off to concentration camps during WW2, did the bon odori traditions still prevail while they were in the camps? Or was it not allowed? --"ihk" (APRIL 2000) A: Evidence from Internment times -- photographs, camp yearbooks, covertly shot film footage -- shows that at least some interned Japanese Canadians and Japanese Americans maintained their Japanese traditions while in camp. They might have been in conflict with those JCs / JAs who wanted to prove how "Canadian" / "American" they were. Some ex-internees even look back fondly on the Internment as a time when they could devote time to Japanese traditions (choosing not to dwell on the fact that their constitutional rights were trampled).
The thriving Obon festivals in today's Nikkei communities (see Obon in North America And Around The World on my "Obon Links" page) are also evidence that the bon odori traditions were maintained. (Thanks to members of the Ties Talk e-mail list for contributing information for this answer!) Q: I am doing a research paper on bon odori. I was wondering if you could explain to me how the actual dance is conducted. Thank you.
-- Chris (APRIL 1999)
I hope this answer is of some help to you.
Q:
Hello! I enjoyed your Web page very much, especially the pictures.
I am doing a paper on how dance constructs identity and am interested
in the experience, feelings,and thoughts that result from either watching or
participating in the Obon Festival. I was wondering if you could
answer a few questions:
Thank you very much.
--Naomi Wimberley-Hartman, South Hadley MA, USA (APRIL 1999)
A:
I referred these questions to a Japanese American e-mail list.
Have a look at the responses on the Ties Talk Archive Bon Odori page.
Q:
I am doing an assignment on the festivals of Japan for my Japanese class.
But I am stuck on the Obon part. I read from another Web page that Obon
may take place on 15 July or 15 August. Is that true? Why is that?
And which part of Japan celebrates in July? Which part celebrates in August?
Thanx for answering my question ... u save my life!!!
--Veanna Wong, New Zealand (AAPRIL 1999)
A:
Obon is observed from the 13th to the 15th of the seventh
month of the year. Exactly when that is depends on which calendar
is followed -- Chinese or Western. Japan imported a lot of
culture from China early on in its history, including the
lunar calendar. Later, it adopted many Western ways, including
-- on 05 December 1872 C.E. (Meiji 5 nen) to be exact --
the Julian calendar. The lunar calendar is roughly one month
later than the Julian calendar -- the lunar seventh month is Julian August.
All of Japan uses the Western (Julian) calendar for business
and daily life. Generally (there are exceptions), it is also used for festivals
in the bigger cities and the eastern part of Japan, including Tokyo.
Generally, smaller towns and the western part of Japan still use
the lunar calendar for certain ceremonial purposes. So, Obon
is observed in July in bigger cities and the eastern part of Japan (generally)
and in August in smaller towns and the western part of Japan (generally).
Q:
I am living in North Florida (United States South Eastern Coast).
I am wondering when Obon is being held here.
I am new to Florida, and I have tried to locate some sort of
Japanese American Center here, but I have had no luck.
Most other Japanese Americans or Japanese I talk to say "it depends".
Mainly because of the difference between Calendars.
I am wondering if you had any suggestions. Would it make sense to
hold it during both [July and August], or should I pick one?
Since I am in a big city, should I do it [in July], or because my
ancestors came from Western Japan, should I wait until August?
You wonder if I should follow what my parents did, but [mine]
didn't follow it.
Please, any help you can offer to me is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and kindness.
--Mitori KAGEMARU, FL, USA (JJULY 2000)
A:
> I am living in North Florida (United States South Eastern Coast).
You could look for local Buddhist organizations -- they probably
won't be run by Japanese people, but they might have some kind of
Obon celebration planned. If there aren't any, I guess
you will be observing Obon on your own.
> Would it make sense to hold it during both [July and August] or
One Obon per year is plenty -- celebrating twice means the spirits
of the dead must make two trips! To be the most "traditional",
observe Obon in the middle of the seventh month of the lunar calendar,
that is, on August 13th, 14th and 15th of the Julian calendar.
In North America, Japanese festivals seem to be scheduled less
according to tradition than other factors. For example, in Portland,
Oshougatsu (New Year) is celebrated in February, which is in
accordance with the lunar calendar, but also avoids timing
conflicts with the hectic Christmas/New Year period. On the other
hand, Portland's Obon is held partway between the solar calendar
date and the lunar calendar date. And look at all the different
dates of these Obon celebrations:
> You wonder if I should follow what my parents did, but [mine]
In that case, you are free to create your own tradition as you
see fit. If you decide on a "traditional" Obon, it will be
because you want to, not because society dictates it.
Q:
We will be visiting Japan in August and read that all forms of
transportation are booked in mid August because of the Bon Festival.
Do you know if that extends to Aug 18 and 19?
--Donn Townsend, Portland OR, USA (MAY 2001)
A:You read correctly -- planes, trains, automobiles,
and boats in Japan are all packed full during Obon (Aug 13, 14, 15)
and the days immediately before and after. But by the 18th and 19th,
things usually settle down to normal.
Have a great trip! Drink plenty of water -- August in Japan is hot!
Q:
I will be going to Tokyo, and am wondering if you know where would be good places to see
some Obon ceremonies.
--Isaac Adamson (JULY 2001)
A:
The Japan Times,
an English-language Japanese newspaper, has a
Festivals Listing, which tells you
where festivals, Obon and otherwise, are scheduled to happen in the Tokyo area.
You can also ask around at tourist agencies, local merchants where you are staying
(they usually sponsor neighbourhood bon odori), and Buddhist temples.
Good luck, and cherish any Obon event you should happen to come across.
Traditional experiences in Tokyo are increasingly hard to find!
Q:
Do you know any places that became famous thanks to their Obon festival?
Where is the most famous toronagashi (lantern floating) in Japan?
--Mélinée SATO, Brussels, Belgium (MAY 2001)
A:
The tourist bureau of every city in Japan probably wants to say that their Obon festival and
toronagashi are the most famous! Check my Obon Links page
for links to some that I have heard about. WRT toronagashi, I can say from personal experience
that Nagasaki's is spectacular.
--Chris Chartchaiganan, Southern Californiaa, USA (NOV 2001)
A:
The Chankoko dance of Fukue City, Nagasaki Prefecture
is a Buddhist dance to invoke deities during the
Obon Festival, 13-15 August. Families who have had
a death in the past year ask Chankoko dancers to
perform the in their garden or by their family grave.
Young men, wearing deep blue undergarments, a hat adorned
with flowers, and a straw loincloth, march through the
streets beating a gong ("Chan!") and a drum ("Ko ko!")
and singing, "Oh, omo, ondeoniyamiyohde" (the meaning is no
longer known, but it might be a Buddhist sutra). Only men do the dance,
and they practice nightly for two weeks leading up to Obon.
The origin of the Chankoko dance is probably the islands south of Japan.
How this tradition was incorporated into Obon is lost in the mist of time.
It has been performed for at least 800 years -- it was first mentioned in records in 1187
when the founder of the Goto Clan, Iemori Uku, entered Goto Castle.
--Chris Chartchaiganan, Southern Californiaa, USA (NOV 2001)
A:
Local customs vary in the degree to which they are famous nationwide.
I never have never been to Miharu, in northern Japan, and don't know much about it.
This webpage has an image of the dance:
Miharu: Obon and Bon Odori
You might try asking the Miharu municipal government:
Miharu Home Page
Q:
Please send visual instructions for the Obon dance.
--David Long, Balto MD, USA (MAY 1999)
A:
There is no single bon odori (bon dance) -- each region
(even city sometimes) has its own unique dance, which incorporates
local themes or stories. Hand gestures show things such as the
movement of that region's work, like digging or cutting rice, or its geography, like flowing rivers.
Fans are used as props to show such concepts as a boat, a sake
cup, a butterfly or a flower opening.
Also, more than one kind of dance is danced during the course
of an evening -- otherwise it would get boring! So the same
dance can be danced in many different places. A popular dance
that most people know no matter where in Japan they are from
is Tanko Bushi, The Coal Mining Dance:
Check out my "Obon Links" page for links
to explanations and images of other dances, like Tokushima City's Awa Odori.
I hope this helps you. Have fun practicing these bon odori!
Or make up an odori for your own city or region!
Q:
When looking for information on the dance Tanko Bushi
I came across your web page so I'm asking you whether you know
any cultural meaning behind this dance and why people do it?
What is its purpose?
Thank you
--Nancy (MARCH 2000)
A:
Tanko Bushi, the Coal Mining Dance is a folk dance
from one of the coal mining regions of Japan, and is
frequently danced during the Obon festival.
In much the same way that a Hawai'ian hula dancer's
movements tell a story, the movements of Tanko Bushi
show what life is like as a Japanese coal miner.
As to why Japanese people do the Tanko Bushi dance,
the above reference indicates that Tanko Bushi might have been
adapted from a rice harvest dance.
Another source
refers to speculation that these dances are indigenous to Japan, and were incorporated into
the Obon tradition when Buddhism arrived from China and Korea.
You could also ask why people anywhere do their folk dances - square dance, polka, etc.?
It is a social tradition for festive occasions.
Q:
What provoqued the need for Japanese people to celebrate Obon?
Is it because a part of the Shinto religion is to worship your ancestors?
I heard that before Bouddhism came to Japan (since it is an agricultural land) some peasants had already some
Shinto rituals and when Bouddhism was introduced, the mix between
Bouddhism and Shintoism became Obon. Is that true?
--Mélinée SATO, Brussels, Belgium (MAY 2001)
A: There is evidence that elements of Shinto, the pre-existing
indigenous culture were incorporated into the Buddhism that was brought from China and Korea,
resulting in Japanese Buddhism (see the above question about bon odori).
This helped Buddhism gain widespread adoption in Japan.
Q:
Is hanabi (fireworks) a part of the Obon celebration,or
is it more like a summer matsuri (festival) kind of thing?
--Mélinée SATO, Brussels, Belgium (MAY 2001)
A: Hanabi is not specific to Obon,
it is just something fun to do when everybody gets together. Never point a firework at another person.
Always have a bucket of water close by, and make sure all flames and sparks are extinguished.
Q:
What happens if it rains during Obon?
--Tadaaki HIRUKI, Portland OR, USA (AUGUST 1999)
A:
I only found out this year! See Obon Rained Out
Q:
I am in charge of decorations for our Japanese class' Obon festival.
I was hoping you could post some information on the appropriate decorations
for Obon that might be possible to obtain without
a great deal of money (to be honest, I can't afford those
hundred-dollar lanterns!) Arigatou!
--Nathan Antill, San Rafael CA, USA (OCTOBER 1999)
First of all, do you want to know why the real chochin
(lanterns) are so expensive?
- this site explains how lanterns are made, and why they are so expensive -- it takes a lot of work to make one! People in Japan can justify the price to themselves by amortizing (averaging) the cost over the many years the lanterns will be used. Plus, they are buying the lanterns to show respect for their ancestors. How realistic does your Obon Festival need to be? You might be able to get the desired effect from some of those plain white paper lanterns that every household goods store seems to be selling these days. Decorate it with a family crest using black paint or a marking pen. If you are really on a tight budget, you might try making lanterns this way:
Those made of white paper can be for the ohaka, while ones made of colored paper can be used for the place where the bon odori is done. A frame to hang the lanterns on can be made of some spare sticks. Incense is available at many stores, and isn't that expensive. To hold the incence sticks upright, you will need a bowl full of ash. Finally, for the ohaka (grave or tomb) you could paint a cardboard box gray, with gold lettering for the family name.
I hope these suggestions help a bit and are within your budget. Just remember: it is the thought that counts. Q:When I lived in Okinawa, I was told during Obon a family's youngest daughter over 7 went into the tomb to scrape the dead flesh off the bones of dead relatives. Is this an older custom or were they pulling my leg? I think your website is very informative and interesting.
--Thomasson (MARCH 2001)
A:
Nothing like that is part of the Obon tradition that I am familiar with.
But Okinawa has some customs that are different from the rest Japan, such as Eisa dancing.
Some customs there are more Chinese than Japanese. Southern Chinese burial practice
is to first bury the body in a shallow grave and leave it for seven years,
then exhume what is left of the body, scrape the bones and re-inter
them in a second funeral at their ancestral burial ground, where they are left undisturbed.
In Japan, bodies are cremated rather than buried.
The bones (bone fragments and ashes, really)
that are placed in family tombs are the cremated remains of dead relatives.
The cremation process thoroughly burns the flesh off the bones.
Once the bones go into the tomb, they generally are left there undisturbed.
--Kozo FUJIMOTO (MARCH 20011)
A:
Because that is the way Obon is done here! Have a look at these images of Obon
as it is celebrated in Portland, Oregon, USA:
In North America, Obon is a time when Nikkei-jin (people of Japanese ancestry) celebrate their heritage and observe traditions. It is also a time when we can teach others about Japanese culture. How is Obon celebrated where you live?
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A:
Bon odori (bon dance) is usually done in a neighbourhood park,
schoolyard or other central public place and can be held during the day or (more typically) in the evening, when it is cooler.
The dancers form a wide ring around a taiko (Japanese drum), which may be raised on
a yagura (platform) or tower. The drummer pounds the beat of the bon odori song.
In these modern times, instead of a taiko there may be a speaker system hooked up to a stereo
that plays recorded odori music.
The dancers move in a wide circle around the yagura, usually counterclockwise.
Some neighbourhood ladies usually know the dance well, either from having done it for years,
or from having practiced during the weeks leading up to Obon.
Anybody else joins in as they like, following the others' example.
So, it is sort of like "The Hokey Pokey", "The Bird Dance", or "The Macarena"!
"Toro-nagashi" or lantern floating, like they do in Hiroshima,
is easy to do inexpensively. Just get a 6" x 6" square of 1"-thick
styrofoam and stick a toothpick, disposable wooden chopstick or
yakitori skewer upright in each corner of one surface. Now take a strip of rice paper
about 6" wide x slightly more than the perimeter of the square,
and wrap it around the outside of the chopsticks. (Before doing this,
you can paint something on the paper if you want.) Tape or glue
it shut so as to make a cube with an open top. Then, place a candle in the middle
and set the whole thing on the water and watch it float away.Images of Obon 1993: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Q & A | Links
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