Basic knowledge about the types and dates of memorial funeral services

The most common funeral in Japan is the Buddhist funeral. When a family member dies and rushes to the funeral shop, the funeral shop will prepare for the Buddhist funeral unless otherwise stated. Buddhist funerals are regarded as the most common form of funeral in Japan, regardless of the beliefs of the person or family.

The characteristics of Buddhist funerals are that many Japanese people imagine that they are funerals, such as "a monk chanting sutras while hitting a mokugyo" and "decorating an altar or wreath and burning incense." In addition, Buddhist funerals are characterized by the fact that many memorial services are held after the funeral. The names of the memorial services such as "49th day" and "third anniversary" are words that even people who have never been involved in a funeral have heard.

If you give the most standard funeral in Japan, what kind of memorial service will you have after the funeral? What is the schedule? I will explain the basic knowledge about the types and schedules of the memorial service.

What is a memorial service? Why do you need a "holy memorial service"?

A memorial service is a ceremony to pray for the souls of the deceased after a Buddhist funeral. After the funeral, it will be dated. There are cases where all are done separately, and cases where they are done together to some extent. For example, the funeral and the first seven days and the forty-ninth day are different, but in recent years it has been difficult to take time off from work for each of these memorial services, so the monks and people at the funeral home and the bereaved family talked about the funeral. Later, the first seven days and the forty-ninth day may be continued.

In addition, the scale of the memorial service varies considerably depending on the home and the area where you live. In the past, there were many homes that invited people to do it each time, but in recent years, there are also homes where only the Buddhist chant is needed. It tends to be simplified to suit your lifestyle.

Why is such a memorial service necessary in the first place? Isn't it the end if only the funeral is given?

The answer lies in the Buddhist way of thinking about death.

Buddhism believes that the soul of the deceased still exists in the world after the funeral. Forty-nine days after his death is a period between that world and this world, and it is said that on the forty-ninth day after his death, the Great Enma of Hell will give a judgment after death. Because it is decided whether to go to hell or heaven on the 49th day, the memorial service is set on the 49th day according to that date.

The year, number of days, and date when each memorial service is held are meaningful. The memorial service after the Buddhist funeral is to pray for the souls of the deceased in the world. It is not necessary to remember in detail how each date was set, but it is easy to say that "the memorial service is meaningful" and "the date when the memorial service (legal affairs) is held is not appropriate and has a proper meaning". Let's remember.

What is the type of memorial service? Check important memorial services

Now, let's introduce what kind of memorial service (legal affairs) there is.

There is one caveat. Other memorial services may be held in some areas. For example, there are areas where the memorial service is held weekly from the first seven days to the forty-ninth day. Do you call people or not? The scale of the memorial service may change not only depending on the lifestyle but also depending on the area.

Also, the policy of the temple that is a Danish family may change, so if you have any questions, please check with the temple, neighbors, or funeral director. If you ask, "What should I do for the time being?", It should give you a rough idea of ​​the legal schedule and experience.

First seven days (Is it?)

The event will be held by inviting relatives, friends and acquaintances. We ask the Buddhist priest to read the sutras and also burn incense. In recent years, it is often held as a set with a funeral.

Forty-nine days

The event will be held on the 49th as well, inviting relatives and friends. The content is often almost the same as the first seven days. Depending on the area, in recent years it has been increasingly held as a set with a funeral. If you haven't delivered your bones after the funeral, you will often do so in the last 49 days.

Hundred days (hyakkanichi)

It is the memorial service of the 100th day. Basically, it is done only by the bereaved family, but there are also houses that call only close relatives. There are some homes that ask for Buddhist chanting and some homes that omit it. If you don't know, it's a good idea to ask a funeral home or funeral home, "What are your other homes doing?"

1st anniversary (Isshuki) -33rd anniversary (Sanjusankaiki)

The memorial service (legal affairs) is held every 4 or 6 years. Specifically, there are the following recollections. 1st anniversary (1 year), 3rd anniversary (2 years), 7th anniversary (6 years), 13th anniversary (12 years), 17th anniversary (16 years), 23rd anniversary (22 years) ), Twenty-seventh anniversary (26 years), and 33rd anniversary (32 years).

Among these, the major memorial services are the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 13th, and 33rd anniversary. Many homes carry out the memorial service relatively accurately until the thirteenth anniversary, but there are many homes that omit the subsequent memorials except for large ones such as the thirty-third anniversary.

In modern times, it may be the minority to do all the recollections diligently. This is partly because the lifestyle has changed from the past and it is difficult to take a day off each time the memorial service is held. The reason is that it will increase. Therefore, there are many homes that only have the big memorial services of the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 13th, and 33rd anniversaries.

Generally, it will be mourned for the 33rd anniversary, and no further memorial service will be held. Since the 33rd anniversary is an important memorial service of mourning, it tends to be performed more grandly than other memorial services.

Finally

This time, we have introduced the schedule when you choose a Buddhist funeral. Buddhist funerals may also have other rituals depending on the denomination or region. There are some things that can only be known by checking with the people in the area or the funeral director about what kind of memorial service is being carried out in each area. If you're attending a distant funeral, it's a good idea to briefly check the subsequent memorial services. If you feel emotionally uncertain about the deceased's relatives, you can gently ask the funeral director.

Other funerals include Christian and Shinto ceremonies. In recent years, there have been many funerals that are not bound by faith, such as scatter to the sea. What you do after the funeral will vary, so it's a good idea to check as well. If you have any questions, ask them as soon as possible so as not to panic.