A Butsudan (仏壇, lit. "Buddhist altar"), sometimes spelled Butudan, is a shrine commonly found in temples and homes in Japanese Buddhist cultures.[1] A butsudan is either a defined, often ornate platform or simply a wooden cabinet sometimes crafted with doors that enclose and protect a Gohonzon or religious icon, typically a statue or painting of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, or a calligraphic mandala scroll.
An ornate butsudan with open doors displaying an enshrined Amida Buddha. A Butsudan in the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism tradition.
Close-up view of the inner altar with the painted scroll of the Buddha
The butsudan's primary use is for paying respects to the Buddha, as well as to family members who have died.
A butsudan usually contains an array of subsidiary religious accessories, called butsugu, such as candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and platforms for placing offerings such as fruit, tea or rice. Some Buddhist sects place ihai memorial tablets, kakochō death registers for deceased relatives, or urns containing the cremated remains of relatives, either within or near the butsudan.[2] The defined space which occupies the Butsudan is referred to as Butsuma. If there are doors used, a Butsudan enshrines the Gohonzon icon during religious observances, and close after usage. In case of no doors, either a sheet of brocade or white cloth is sometimes placed over to render its sacred space. Traditional Japanese beliefs hold the Butsudan to be a house of the Buddha, Bodhisattva, as well as of deceased relatives enshrined within it. In some Buddhist sects, when a Butsudan is replaced or repaired by the family, a re-enshrinement ceremony follows.[3]
The arrangement and types of items in and around the butsudan can vary depending on the sect. A butsudan usually houses a honzon, a statue or painting of the Buddha or a Buddhist deity that reflects the school which the family follows, though embroidered scrolls containing a mantric or sutric text are also common. Other auxiliary items often found near the butsudan include tea, water and food (usually fruits or rice), an incense burner, candles, flowers, hanging lamps and evergreens.[4] A rin often accompanies the butsudan, which can be rung during liturgy or recitation of prayers. Members of some Buddhist sects place ihai or tablets engraved with the names of deceased family members within or next to the butsudan. Other Buddhist sects, such as Jōdo Shinshū, usually do not have these, but may instead have pictures of the deceased placed near the butsudan.[5] The butsudan is typically placed upon a larger cabinet in which are kept important family documents and certificates.[6]
Social-spiritual relations
The butsudan is commonly seen as an essential part in the life of a traditional Japanese family as it is the centre of spiritual faith within the household, especially in dealing with the deaths of family members or reflecting on the lives of ancestors. This is especially true in many rural villages, where it is common for more than 90% of households to possess a butsudan, to be contrasted with urban and suburban areas, where the rate of butsudan ownership can often fall below 60%.[7]
^Reader (1995:55) notes: "Over 60% of Japanese households have a butsudan: many of the rest do not simply because no-one in the family has yet died and become an ancestor".
^See Nakamaki (2003:24-25) for a discussion of the sociological stratification of butsudan ownership in modern Japan.
References
Buckley, Sandra (2002) "Butsudan and Kamidana" in Buckley, Sandra (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture, pp. 56–57. London: Routledge. ISBN0-415-14344-6.
Hamabata, M. Masayuki (1990). Crested Kimono: Power and Love in the Japanese Business Family. New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN0-8014-2333-3.
Lewis, Todd T. (2007). "Butsudan" in Espin, Orlando (Ed.) An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies, pg. 178. Collegeville: Liturgical Press. ISBN978-0-8146-5856-7.
Nakamaki, Hirochika (2003). Japanese Religions at Home and Abroad. New York: Routledge/Curzon. ISBN0-7007-1617-3.
Reader, Ian (1995). Japanese Religions: Past and Present. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN0-8248-1545-9.
Further reading
Rambelli, Fabio (2010). , Japanese Religions 35 (1-2), 63-86
Nelson, John K. (2008). : Rectifying Buddhist “Ancestor Worship” with Home Décor and Consumer Choice, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 35 (2), 305-330
External links
Media related to Butsudan at Wikimedia Commons
March 03, 2023
butsudan, 仏壇, buddhist, altar, sometimes, spelled, butudan, shrine, commonly, found, temples, homes, japanese, buddhist, cultures, butsudan, either, defined, often, ornate, platform, simply, wooden, cabinet, sometimes, crafted, with, doors, that, enclose, prot. A Butsudan 仏壇 lit Buddhist altar sometimes spelled Butudan is a shrine commonly found in temples and homes in Japanese Buddhist cultures 1 A butsudan is either a defined often ornate platform or simply a wooden cabinet sometimes crafted with doors that enclose and protect a Gohonzon or religious icon typically a statue or painting of a Buddha or Bodhisattva or a calligraphic mandala scroll An ornate butsudan with open doors displaying an enshrined Amida Buddha A Butsudan in the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism tradition Close up view of the inner altar with the painted scroll of the Buddha The butsudan s primary use is for paying respects to the Buddha as well as to family members who have died Contents 1 Arrangement 2 Social spiritual relations 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksArrangement EditA butsudan usually contains an array of subsidiary religious accessories called butsugu such as candlesticks incense burners bells and platforms for placing offerings such as fruit tea or rice Some Buddhist sects place ihai memorial tablets kakochō death registers for deceased relatives or urns containing the cremated remains of relatives either within or near the butsudan 2 The defined space which occupies the Butsudan is referred to as Butsuma If there are doors used a Butsudan enshrines the Gohonzon icon during religious observances and close after usage In case of no doors either a sheet of brocade or white cloth is sometimes placed over to render its sacred space Traditional Japanese beliefs hold the Butsudan to be a house of the Buddha Bodhisattva as well as of deceased relatives enshrined within it In some Buddhist sects when a Butsudan is replaced or repaired by the family a re enshrinement ceremony follows 3 The arrangement and types of items in and around the butsudan can vary depending on the sect A butsudan usually houses a honzon a statue or painting of the Buddha or a Buddhist deity that reflects the school which the family follows though embroidered scrolls containing a mantric or sutric text are also common Other auxiliary items often found near the butsudan include tea water and food usually fruits or rice an incense burner candles flowers hanging lamps and evergreens 4 A rin often accompanies the butsudan which can be rung during liturgy or recitation of prayers Members of some Buddhist sects place ihai or tablets engraved with the names of deceased family members within or next to the butsudan Other Buddhist sects such as Jōdo Shinshu usually do not have these but may instead have pictures of the deceased placed near the butsudan 5 The butsudan is typically placed upon a larger cabinet in which are kept important family documents and certificates 6 Social spiritual relations EditThe butsudan is commonly seen as an essential part in the life of a traditional Japanese family as it is the centre of spiritual faith within the household especially in dealing with the deaths of family members or reflecting on the lives of ancestors This is especially true in many rural villages where it is common for more than 90 of households to possess a butsudan to be contrasted with urban and suburban areas where the rate of butsudan ownership can often fall below 60 7 See also EditGohonzon Nichiren Buddhism Kamidana analogous concept in Shinto Spirit houseNotes Edit Reader 1995 55 notes Over 60 of Japanese households have a butsudan many of the rest do not simply because no one in the family has yet died and become an ancestor Cf Reader 1995 55 56 Lewis 2007 178 NHK World Core Kyoto The Butsudan Episode Cf Buckley 2002 56 57 Bregman Lucy 2009 Religion Death and Dying Volume 3 Praeger p 164 ISBN 978 0897501217 Cf Hamabata 1990 61 See Nakamaki 2003 24 25 for a discussion of the sociological stratification of butsudan ownership in modern Japan References EditBuckley Sandra 2002 Butsudan and Kamidana in Buckley Sandra Ed Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture pp 56 57 London Routledge ISBN 0 415 14344 6 Hamabata M Masayuki 1990 Crested Kimono Power and Love in the Japanese Business Family New York Cornell University Press ISBN 0 8014 2333 3 Lewis Todd T 2007 Butsudan in Espin Orlando Ed An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies pg 178 Collegeville Liturgical Press ISBN 978 0 8146 5856 7 Nakamaki Hirochika 2003 Japanese Religions at Home and Abroad New York Routledge Curzon ISBN 0 7007 1617 3 Reader Ian 1995 Japanese Religions Past and Present Honolulu University of Hawaii Press ISBN 0 8248 1545 9 Further reading EditRambelli Fabio 2010 Home Buddhas Historical Processes and Modes of Representation of the Sacred in the Japanese Buddhist Family Altar Japanese Religions 35 1 2 63 86 Nelson John K 2008 Household Altars in Contemporary Japan Rectifying Buddhist Ancestor Worship with Home Decor and Consumer Choice Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 35 2 305 330External links Edit Media related to Butsudan at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Butsudan amp oldid 1123148673, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
