I would like to share Japanese style "effective and correct way" of ritual in Ancestor worship.
This is a kind of white magic.
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 or visiting grave are not radical solution for them.
Some ancestors do not rest in peace because of some reasons.
Every family has troubled ancestors.
To understand the truth, you need to know after life world called Anoyo.
There are some levels in the after life world.
If you leave suffering ancestors in severe places, that will influence on you and your descendant because your body came from all your ancestors.
Ancestors are invisible now but your body's cells and DNA are still active.
That means your dead ancestors aren't extinct.
Their feelings affect your future.
I mean you are the representative of all your ancestors.
You are living with ancestors "now".
First of all, please prepare following items.
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1, Rectangular board as Yorishiro(Paper or wood material only)
This is a substitution of you, your family line and children.
Never bend it. If you hurt it, please replace it immediately.
(The stiff paper is called Tanzaku or Shikishi in Japan)
Approximate size: 6 cm×30 cm / 2.2 in×12 in
or
7.5 cm×36 cm / 3 in×14 in
Gold color rimmed shikishi is better.
You can buy this item at Japanese book store, stationery store and general store or Amazon USA.
$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 available.
Please use very thick paper or cardboard as a core.
It needs some degree of strength and thickness.
For Christian family, a cross style is also OK.
(Thick core paper is sandwiched by 2 white papers)
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)
3, Incense sticks / 10cm length or longer
This is my box of incense. 200 sticks $7.99/one box for two months usage
(I usually do Butsudan ritual twice a day. 6 sticks a day)
Your favorite, any scent is OK.
Longer stick and full smoke type is better.
If you use less smoke incense, the effect is not perfect.
If you have allergy to smoke or sensitive fire alarm in house, please prepare 3 cups of hot tea.
This steam ritual in Butsuan is not so effective, but better than nothing.
Broken incenses are not appropriate at all
but you can use broken one in only "3rd" incense position.
(Never use broken, short sticks in 1st and 2nd position)
Or please use broken incenses in floor ritual not in Butsudan.
4, White ash bowl and white plate/dish
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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 the 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.
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
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.
Nail-less wood table is better.
Around the table must be cleaned and empty.(About 1 meter around the table)
Do not scatter around the table.
Do not set the paper board on the floor. Table is essential.
Some Japanese people use most 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 a wall.
(Avoid a wall that faces west if you can)
8, Hot tea, Hot distilled water, Hot coffee or other drink with a plain simple teacup
White or plain color tea cup or mug. (No Red Color)
And please use it for your ancestor only.
Never use animal printed cup.
Any drink is OK but hot one is better because some ancestors
in cold place.
I always put green or hoji tea on the ritual table.
Some Japanese people give Matcha green tea to ancestors.
It takes a long time and the time and effort makes your ancestors happier.
Please imagine and give your ancestor's favorite drink.
If you do Butsudan ritual without incense sticks,
you need to prepare 3 tea cups
and don't have to buy ash bowl, ash, white plate, and fire lighter.
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.
In Japanese, it is "位".
Please use a pen or writing brush.(Black or Gold ink only)
Do not trace each letter again after you write words once.
(You need a very thick pen for the bold letters)
Please write it yourself as a ceremony manager. (Hand writing only)
If you write it wrong, please throw it away.
To dispose a failed paper board, wrap it with a white clean paper.
(Do not cut or bend the failed paper board when you throw it away)
(Information for wives)
Please write your husband's surname even if your family name is different.
If you are a biggest earner in your home, you can use your name.
But different name couple is not so good in spiritual point of view.
Because the couple is protected by different ancestor lines.
Each ancestor group prioritizes only own descendant.
Do not touch paper board after you write name on it.
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 slightly by incense smoke, but it is no problem.
If it gets stains or damage accidentally, please replace it.
(The old/used board must be wrapped by clean white paper then thrown it away)
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Please make vacant spaces above the paper board (50cm or more) and under the table.
If you do this ritual with 3 tea cups, put them in front of the paper board.
Also, please put ritual items in the middle of your table.
Because the paper board acts as your body's substitute.
Placing items on the edge means that you stand on the edge of a precipice.
Sometimes the paper board gets curve because of high humidity in summer season.
You don't have to replace it.
If you bend it by accidents, please replace.
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 ritual.
It is ideal that the table and ritual items are always setting up habitually.
But you can put them away after ceremony, if necessary.
You can touch table or ritual items 1 hour after burning incenses out.
I mean you can set up Butsudan table only when you do the ritual.
Do not bring Butsudan items with you when you go to travel.
Butsudan is a home ceremony.
Butsudan is common-use table of your same name family members.
But you and other members can have self Butsudan each other.
Because each member have different destiny special ancestors as a kind of guarduan.
Main family's spiritual stream is common but each member has different background.
One common Butsudan table in one family = Regular style
Some self Butsudan tables in one family = It is also OK.
Many examples (A family/Father, Mother, Son, Daughter)
1, Only a mother do the ritual as a representative. (One table / Home)
2, Each member have self Butsudan table. Of course children are not kids.
3, Only son do the ritual in single life house.
4, Daughter do the ritual in her room in a house. (Living with her parent)
5, Father and daughter do the ritual.(One table / Home)
6, Each member do the ritual in turn with one common table.
Don't force to do the ritual to your family who don't want to.
If your parent don't like the ritual, you can't do the ritual in their house.
If you are a single, renting own apartment, you can do the ritual whatever your parent say.
If you interested in Kamidana table,
please take care Kamidana before you do Butsudan ceremony.
Kamidana table is for nature gods who are protecting your neighborhood.
Butsudan table is for your own ancestors.
To tell the truth, both table are set.
Nature gods and your ancestors are always trying to guard you without return.
Without your thank.
Japan's Shinto, oldest worship in the wolrd, is meaning giving grateful to exists which is "already" giving everything.
Practice
You do this ceremony when you have time and gratitude for ancestors.
Avoid sad and bad mood day.
First, clean the room especially around the table.
Then, wipe the table.
Make a cup of hot drink and put it the left side of the paper board.
Please put the fire to three incenses.
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First incense for men in your ancestor group.
Please say thankful words for them.
Japanese magic words ↓
Ikashite-Itadaite Arigatou-Gozaimasu
Amaterasu Ohomikami Amaterasu Ohomikami
(Thank you for giving me/us my/our life)
(Goddess of the Sun, Goddess of the Sun)
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Second incense for women in your ancestor group.
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)
(Goddess of the Sun,Goddess of the Sun)
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The 3rd stick is very important in this ritual.
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)
(Goddess of the Sun,Goddess of the Sun)
Some people say the spell only one time just after 3rd incense.
That is no problem.
That is no problem.
Incenses position/Bird's eye view↓
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If you don't use incense sticks, put 3 tea cups in the same way.
Some people may feel bad after they start this ritual.
It will disappear at least within a few month.
But you can quit Butsudan tirual anytime if you feel scary.
This ritual takes about 1.5 hour or more.
Incenses burning time 30min or more + ancestors stay around the paper board 60min
Burning time depends on your length of incenses or humidity.
Do this ritual 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.
Time recomendation
Ideal Butsudan hour / In the morning by 10am
Avoid dusk time and 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 30 min + 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.
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.
Butsudan is the simple place for own ancestors.
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.
You may think some oldest ancestors had not the same family name.
But it is not problem because there is strong DNA connection between you and your ancestors.
Like a white magic,they can visit your table because you have "DNA" and "family name".
Both keys are
I am a wife.So I don't use maiden name.
But my parent family line's 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 give three incense sticks.
You don't need to stay around the table while incenses are burning.(25-30min)
You can stay other room but be careful about fire accidents.
For further Butsudan knowledge,
I recommend you to read this article.(Final destination of rebirth system)
We have to know the world after death.