Obon :: essays research papers

The Japanese cultural holiday Obon is short for Urabon and commode be traced etymologically to the Sanskrit word Ullambana, literally meaning to hang upside conquer. It implies that unity must withstand unbearable suffering while creation hanged upside down. In the Buddhist script Urabon Sutra, a story is told where a son saves his fix from Hell by making offerings to monks. Through the merits of his actions, his commence was saved from Hell, ascended into divinity, and became a Buddha. Thusly, to save people from Hell (being hanged upside down), ones family and/or friends must make offerings to the dead person. Obon is held usually in the middle August or July for a week in which the spirits of the deceased are supposed to come back to the land of the living. Being held since the seventh century, it is especially enjoyable to the Japanese people. One of its key features involves offering viands items to the deceased. Vegetables, fruits, rice, candy, rice wine, and among ot hers are offered to the deceased. (But not only the deceased receive nutriment special foods are made to give away to neighbor, friends, and family.) In addition, keep an eye on is shown with floral decorations on the altar or gravesite along with incense eager and prayer. Particularly, prayer is said for wayward spirits that have passed away in the recent year, as its said they need more counseling to find their way. The Festival of the Dead, as its sometimes called, is a celebratory and social event. While this is not a national or man holiday, plenty of people from the city go back to their hometowns to polish up and clean their ancestors gravesites.On the actual day of the celebration, a menagerie of lanterns, in a multitude of colors, are hung all round the town and specifically on ho intentions. The logic is this since spirits come back, the lanterns pass on guide them to and from the spirit world. However a more realistic use for these is lighting the area where the b on dances will take place. The bon dances have religious undertones also. In the story above, the dancing signifies the joy and elation the son felt when his mother was offered divinity. Now, in the center of town, a makeshift tower is erected. A Taiko drummer is on top and speakers play special Obon music and dancers below dressed in yukata (summer) kimonos circle below in dance.