| Bon Festival |
Article Index for Bon |
Website Links For Bon |
Information AboutBon Festival |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT BON FESTIVAL | |
| dances of japan | |
| festivals in japan | |
| buddhism in japan | |
| buddhist festivals | |
| buddhist holidays | |
| july observances | |
|
O-bon (Jap. お盆) or only '''Bon''' is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed Spirit s of one's Ancestor s. 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 ). The Japanese believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna". ''Bon Odori'' originates from the '' 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
SEE ALSO |
|
|