Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(67) Manpukuji, a Zen temple built during the Tokugawa period. It shows much Chinese
influence, noticeable inthisphotographinthepattern oftherailing, whichincorporates the
swastika, a Buddhist emblem.
After cremation the ashes would be collected and placed under a memorial stone in a
cemetery attached to a temple or, in Kyoto, in one of the areas that since early times had
been devoted to this purpose. A lacquered tablet with the dead person's Buddhist name,
given to him after death, written on it was placed in the Buddhist altar that was to be found
in most homes, and also possibly in the temple where the family was inscribed.
Specialobservancesrequiringscripture-readingsandprayerswereheldatfixedperiods
after a death. Every seventh day immediately afterwards until the seventh of these (that is,
until the forty-ninth day), special prayers were offered for the departed, since it was be-
lieved that on these days, and especially on the seventh, thirty-fifth, and forty-ninth, de-
cisions were made about the next life that he was to live, so that he was in particular need
ofhelponthosedaysfromthosehehadleftbehind.Ifthedeadmanhadbeenoutstandingly
virtuousorevil, hisfuturewouldhavebeendecided without delay,butinmostcases, some
considerationofhismeritswereneeded,andincenserisingfromtheworldcouldexertafa-
vorable influence. Other commemorations were observed on the anniversary of the death,
and here again certain anniversaries were of more importance than the rest; the first, third,
seventh, thirteenth, seventeenth, and so on until the fiftieth, and after that every 50 years.
A devout family would visit the temple on these occasions, and have prayers read, candles
