Butsudan / How to do / Japanese important daily ritual for ancestors

I've been writing about Butsudan ceremony until now.

Today,I would like to summarize it again and I am going to add further information

in this page from now on.Please bookmark this page.

I would like to share more effective and correct way of Butsudan ritual.

There are many rules but basically,you just give three incenses everyday.

Please save your ancestors.Their only chance depends on you.

They have been waiting for your correct memorial service.

Just thinking about your ancestors is not radical solution for them.

Please think about your countless sad ancestors.

Some ancestors do not rest in peace because of some reasons.

If you leave them forever,it influences on you because your body came from 

all your ancestors.

Ancestors are invisible now but your body's cells and DNA are active.

Active cells = Ancestors aren't extinct now

I mean you are the representative of all your ancestors.

You are living with ancestors now.

First of all,please prepare following items.

1,Rectangular white paper board as Yorishiro(Paper material only)

(This stiff paper is called Tanzaku or Shikishi in Japan)

Approximate size: 6cm×30㎝ / 2.2in×12in

Gold color rimmed shikishi is better.

You can buy this item at Japanese book store,stationery store and general store.

$2-3 per one paper board.

Do not make a hole in paper board.

Do not arrange the commercial paper board.

Hand made paper board is also good,if you can't get a commercial paper board.

Please use very thick paper or cardboard as a core.

It needs some degree of strength and thickness.

A cross style is also OK.

(Thick paper is sandwiched by white paper)

2,Board holder(Wood or bamboo material only)

You can make other style holder like this.↓

Four small wood cubes are attached on wood foundation with glue or sticky rice.

Sticky rice is used as glue in Japan.

Insert the paper board into the holder.

Paper board's stability is very important because it influences on your life situation.

Straight standing is needed.

Paper board is needed to fix from both sides without glue.

This is a handmade holder for my floor care ritual.

This style is also OK for Butsudan's holder.

Originally,this was a cutting board holder like these.

I divided it into pieces and assembled as a holder.

Please use glue not metal nails when you make it.

(Remove nails if original wood pieces have)

Other hand made idea for holder

3,Incense sticks / 10cm length or more

This is my box of incense.200 sticks $7.99/one box for two months usage

(I usually do the ancestor ritual twice a day.6 sticks a day)

Any scent is OK if you like it.

Longer stick and full smoke type is better.

Broken incenses are not appropriate for this ceremony.

But you can use it only 3rd incense position in Butsdunan.

Or please use broken incenses in floor ritual not in Butsudan.

4,White ash bowl and white plate/dish

My ash bowl is ramekin.

You can use ramekin or simple rice bowl as a substitute for Japanese ash bowl.

Thick bowl is better than thin bowl.

Do not use glass material.

Ash powder sometimes spill out from the top of  incense stick during ceremony.

White plate is saucer for the ash.The saucer is also fire prevention.

5,Ash powder or Baking soda

Japanese Butsudan ash powder is best,but baking soda is also good.

Do not use salt or sand as a substitute for baking soda.

6,Lighter for ignition

Keep it out of reach of children and pets.

I always put it in a cupboard in high place.

Never use candle fire in this ceremony because there is a possibility of have a candle tumble.

(Fire prevention is important)

7,Wood flawless table

Height:30cm-50cm 

Butsudan beginners don't have to buy the ideal height wood table.

Please start this ceremony on your clean dining table or existing table at first.

Any material is OK at first.

But do not use foldable or slide caster type of table.

Easy to slide = Your life will be restless

Table's situation reflects on your future life.

Stable and sturdy table is good. 

If you can continue Butsudan ceremony more than 6 months,

buy the ideal height wood table.

Of course,you can continue the first height's ceremony after 6 months.

You can feel appropriate height of ceremony after 6 months.

Around the table must be cleaned and empty.(about 1meter around the table)

Do not scatter around the table.

Do not set the paper board on floor.Table is essential.

Some Japanese people use ideal table that is called Hassoku-dai.

But you don't have to prepare it because it is expensive.

I bought my table at IKEA.(LACK photos)

Smooth surface table is good.

Do not put the table towards window or glass wall.

Pleases put the table against normal wall.

(Avoid a wall that faces west if you can)

Preparation 

Let's write your current last/family name on paper board like this↓

The place for ○○'s ancestors 

or

The Memorial place for the ancestors of the ○○'s

Words that correspond to  "The place" are a little bit larger and thicker than other words.

Please use a pen or writing brush.(Black or Gold ink only)

Do not trace each letter again after you write words.

Please write it yourself.(Ceremony manager)

If you write it wrong,please throw it away with the paper board wrapped by white clean paper.

(Do not cut or bend the failed paper board)

(Information for wives)

Using your husband's surname is preferable even if you had already selected the system of husband and wife retaining family names.

But it is case by case.

Who is paying your main living expenses now?

If your husband pay more than you,you have to select husband's name in Butsudan ceremony.

Do not touch paper board after you write name on it.

If you need to touch it when you put it away,

please use tissue paper or clean cloth not bare hands.

Once you write your name on board,use it as long as possible.

The board will be stained by incense smoke,but it is no problem.

If it get other stains or damage accidentally,please replace it.

(The old board must be thrown away with it wrapped by white clean paper)

Please keep vacant space above the paper board.(50cm or more)

Do you have a mirror in your room?

Please avoid the place that Butsudan is reflected in the mirror.

Or cover the mirror with cloth temporarily during Butsudan ceremony.

It is ideal that the table and other items are always setting up habitually.

But you can put them away after ceremony,if necessary.

I mean you can set up Butsudan only when you do Butsudan ceremony.

Do not bring Butsudan items with you when you go to travel.

Butsudan is home ceremony.

Butsudan is common-use table of your family members.(They are same last name holders)

But you and other members can have self Butsudan each other.

Because each member have different destiny special ancestors.

Main family's spiritual stream is common but each member has different background.

One common Butsudan table in one family = Normal style

Some self Butsudan tables in one family = It is also OK

Some examples(Smith family/Father,Mother,Son,Daughter)

1,Only mother do the ritual as a representative.(One home one Butsudan table)

2,All member have self Butsudan tables.(This is the best way)

3,Only son do the ritual in single life house.

4,Daughter do the ritual in her room of parent's house.

5,Father and daughter do the ritual.

Don't force to do the ritual to other member.

Please do the ritual after understanding what Butsudan is.

Anyway,it is no problem in any examples if you use current family name.

If you have Kamidana table,

please care Kamidana before you do Butsudan ceremony.

Detail about location of Kamidana and Butsudan

Practice

You do this ceremony when you have thankful heart for ancestors.

Avoid sad day and bad mood day.

Please put the fire to three incenses with thankful heart for your ancestors.

First incense for men in your ancestors line.

Please say thankful words for them.

Japanese true sacred words ↓

Ikashite-Itadaite Arigatou-Gozaimasu

Amaterasu Ohomikami Amaterasu Ohomikami

(Thank you for giving me/us my/our life)

Second incense for women in your ancestors line.

These two incenses are main incenses.

Please say thankful words for them again.

Japanese sacred words ↓

Ikashite-Itadaite Arigatou-Gozaimasu

Amaterasu Ohomikami Amaterasu Ohomikami

(Thank you for giving me/us my/our life)

The 3rd stick is very important in this ceremony.

The last stick heals all of your dead relations/aborted fetus on your family line/

miscarried fetus/friends/acquaintances/

members of your parents' family line(if you are married woman)

Please say thankful words for them again.

Japanese magical words ↓

Ikashite-Itadaite Arigatou-Gozaimasu

Amaterasu Ohomikami Amaterasu Ohomikami

(Thank you for giving me/us my/our life)

Japanese sacred words are really effective to your ancestors even if you are not Japanese.
Some sensitive people feel something worm air for real.
These words also have strong power of purify.
Please try to say if you can.

Incenses position/Bird's eye view↓

Some people feel bad after they start this ceremony for a while.

But it is not a problem.It will disappear soon.

Once you start the ceremony,carry it on.

But you can quit Butsudan anytime if you feel scary.

 Ceremony takes about 1 hour.

Incenses burning time 30min + ancestors staying in the paper board 30min

(Burning time depends on your length of incenses)

Do this ceremony once a day if you can do it comfortably.

Twice a day is also OK but second ceremony is held after 3 hours later or more.

You do it when you can do.

Some Japanese people do not the ceremony on holidays.

But I do the ceremony every day.

Ideal Butsudan hour = In the morning by 10am 

Avoid dusk time and the time of midnight(from 12am to 04am)

Night time is OK(from about 20pm to 12am)

Dusk time is depends on season and your living country.

If your family member who are living with you refuse this Butsudan concept,

you don't have to do Butsudan ceremony.

Whether you can or you can't this ceremony,it is complete destiny of your life.

Do not touch all things on the table after you dedicated fired incenses unless incense fall down.

Keep kids and pets out of the near table area.

(They can stay in the same room during the ceremony)

Please make sure to keep the room well ventilated.

I always open the window during ceremony.

Confirmation of the fire extinguishing is very important.

Do not leave your house without the confirmation.

So,I recommend night-time ceremony if you are single salaried worker.

You can put the paper board away after the ceremony.

But permanent setting on empty table is ideal way.

Please treat the paper board as your ancestors.

If you want to put it away while you don't use,put it in a clean and calm place.

In that case,please wait at least 1 and half hour.

(Burning time 30min + 1 hour → You can put it away)

Do not touch it by bare hands.

Ash bowl is not allowed to put it away in closet or cupboard.

(Fire prevention.Incenses cinders burn in rare cases)

Please remove incense cinders by tweezers for a change.

I remove them twice a week.

Do not touch ash with your bare hands.

Japanese cinders sifter is unique. (Photos)

Wet cinders with water before you dispose them.

Many Japanese people don't know the effective way of ceremony.

So some Japanese do this ceremony with ineffective manners.
On the contrary,some Japanese believe fake Buddhism cult such as Souka-Gakkai by Korean priest.The new risen cult's aim is destroying Japanese Shinto.

In Souka-Gakkai,people have to sing stupid song/sutra in front of Butsudan table for the Korean priest. 

And people have to pay much money for the group.This is absolutely stupid thing.
Butsudan is the simple place for own ancestors.

New information(May 12)

When you dedicate three incense sticks,do not sit in the middle front of Butsudan table.

Avoiding the middle front of sacred place is one of the important manner in Shinto.

Please sit on right side or left side.

Do not display dead ancestor's photo on the table.

Butsudan is not for particular person.

You have countless many many ancestors.

You can't limit ancestors with your like or dislike.

In Butsudan,your current last name(Family name / surname) is written in a paper board.

Some older ancestors had not the same family name.

But it is not problem because there is strong DNA connection between us.

Older ancestors are going to be saved gradually after near ancestors are saved.

I am wife.So I don't use maiden name.

But my parent's family line people are also saved in my Butsudan.

Third incense stick heals them.

Please use current last name anyway.

Keep away from the table after you dedicate incense sticks.

You don't need to stay around the table while incenses are burning.(25-30min)

Some people feel sleepy during Butsudan ceremony.

But do not worry about it.

I already added above new information in "Summary of Butsudan".

Please check the page occasionally.

For further Butsudan knowledge,

I recommend you to read this article.(Final destination of rebirth system)

We have to know the world after death.

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