Obon
O-bon (Jap. お盆) or only Bon is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist festival has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. Traditionally including a dance festival, it has existed in Japan for more than 500 years. It is held from 13th of July to the 15th ("Welcoming Obon" and "Farewell Obon" respectively) in the eastern part of Japan (Kanto), and in August in the western part. In recent years, however, most parts of Tokyo, and by extension, the media, hold Obon in August to coincide with the summer holiday period. Obon shares some similarities with the predominantly Mexican observance of el Día de los Muertos.
Obon is a shortened form of the legendary Urabonne/Urabanna (Jap. 于蘭盆会 or 盂蘭盆会, urabon'e). It is Sanskrit for "hanging upside down in hell and suffering". The Japanese believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna".
Bon Odori originates from the story of Mokuren, a disciple of Shakyamuni, who saw a vision of his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was indulging in her own selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to the Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Buddha answered, "On the 15th of July, provide a big feast for the past seven generations of dead." The disciple did this and, thus, saw his mother's release. He also began to see the true nature of her past unselfishness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple, happy because of his mother's release and grateful for his mother's kindness, danced with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori or "Bon Dance", a time in which ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated. See also: Ullambana Sutra
Toro Nagashi is the floating of paper lanterns on the last evening of Obon, to guide the spirits of the departed back to the other world.
Bon Odori
Bon Odori (盆踊り, meaning simply Bon dance) is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors.
The O-Bon festival is observed all over the country. Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to express the effusive welcome toward the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in some aspects from region to region. Prefectures often have their own ways of dancing the Bon Odori and their own music to go with it. A Bon Odori in Okayama prefecture will be completely different from one in Kanagawa prefecture. People line up around a high wooden building made especially for the festival called a yagura. There are many kinds of music that go with the dance. The music varies from classical music to Japanese traditional music such as the Makkou Onndo.
The tradition is said to have started in the later years of the Muromachi period as a public entertainment. In the course of time, the original religious meaning has faded, and the dance has become associated with summer.
To celebrate O-Bon in Okinawa, the eisa drum dance is performed instead.
Festival in China
It is also a Chinese festival, but on the seventh month of the Chinese calendar instead of July. See Ghost Festival (盂蘭節).
External links
- Bon Dance: Description of various Bon Dance styles and resources.
- Runker Room : Japan : Obon no koto