Folklore of the Bonihara Festival What does the Bonihara Festival in Japan do?

Originally a festival in China, the Bonihara Festival is now popular in Japan. At home, this folk culture has disappeared. The Bonihara Festival was introduced from China to Asuka during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Today, it has become one of the most important festivals in Japan. So what is the custom of Japanese people to celebrate Bonihara Festival? What do they do during the festival? Let's look at the old history.

Folk custom of Yulan Festival

The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is also the annual Kasahara Festival. According to the Lanpen Buddhist Scripture, "ullambana" is a Sanskrit Ulan Powa. Euglena, translated as "upside down", refers to the container of offerings, so the meaning of "Euglena basin" is an object used to save upside down suffering, which comes from the meaning that in order to save suffering beings in hell, a basin is filled with various fruits to support Buddhists and monks.

This method will be based on the karma of the big-eyed deity, aiming at solving the suspension of all sentient beings, and get rid of the immortal sentient beings, parents, teachers and students from the beginning, so that they can grow up in wealth, good roots and dharma, and even achieve Bodhi. The venerable Mu Guanglian once fasted on this day to save his mother. Since then, every year on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, Buddhist disciples have followed the Buddhist system, held bonsai, fasted for monks, made contributions to eliminating disasters and prolonging life for parents in this world, and the seventh parents were able to get rid of evil spirits. The Buddhist community even designated this day as "Monk's Treasure Festival" to express its respectful support to monks with the "Monk's Meeting".

What is the Bonihara Festival in Japan?

In Japan, since the opening of the new calendar in 1873, people have worshipped their ancestors in various ways every August of the lunar calendar 15.

Elf flow: put the thoughts of old friends in candles, let them flow into the river and drift away with the running water.

Orchid Dance: During the festival, men, women and children will put on bathrobes and perform distinctive dances. Its intention is not only to pay homage to ancestors, but also to pray for good weather. As the "Ghost Festival" in Kyoto, exorcism has become very important! The words composed of burning fire on the mountain are quite shocking.

Hanging lanterns: Because of its simple form and low cost, hanging lanterns can easily become one of the more intimate ceremonies in the Arahara Festival.

The Japanese attach great importance to the Bonihara Festival, which has now become an important festival after New Year's Day. Enterprises and companies usually have a week's rest, which is called "Kogasawara Rest". Many Japanese who go out to work are choosing to use this holiday to return to China to worship their ancestors. At this time, the streets of metropolises (such as Tokyo and Osaka) are mostly deserted, somewhat similar to Tomb-Sweeping Day in China.