Japanese Funeral Lanterns

When someone dies in Japan the family will usually place white paper lantern outside the front of the house as an indication to neighbors and visitors that the house is in mourning and possibly in the process of observing a funeral service. In the past the funeral service would usually take place within the home with the deceased laying before a Buddhist altar while a priest recites appropriate sutras. Family and friends will visit the home during this time dressed in black and offering prayers before the altar. This event will usually take place very soon after the person has died and my wife remembers hastily preparing the home for service after her grandmother passed away. An interesting tradition which is not practiced as often any more is for the entire family to spend the night in the same room with the deceased on the night before the funeral. This in order to ensure that a candle is kept lit throughout the night. Some believe that this tradition arose out of concern that the spirit of the departed might be angered and remain behind if left alone on the night of their passing. My wife remembers sleeping next to her grandmothers body and she indicates that this was not a morbid event and simply and act of respect and love towards a grandmother she loved dearly.

In this video there are no mourners to be seen entering the home and this might be due to the fact that many modern Japanese choose to hold their funeral services at a funeral parlor. In such cases the family may display the lanterns though no formal funeral service is performed at the home.

Paper lanterns have a long history in Japan with the first hand-held lanterns or chochin appearing from China during the Muromachi period (1392-1482). Many westerners are familiar with the oblong shaped dangling paper lantern called the bura-jochin which Japanese travelers carried before them on a short stick. These lanterns are commonly spotted in samurai movies held by soldiers racing after the hero during a nighttime chase. Less familiar is the Odawara-jochin or collapsible paper lantern which could be closed accordion-style and carried in the bosom of the kimono. Lanterns were often hung before homes and businesses as a means of providing illumination as well to communicate significant events such as funerals and to act as advertising. A lantern's color can have meaning as well and every late night reveler in contemporary Japan knows that a red lantern before a doorway indicates he has found his next stop for a drink.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• white
• paper
• funeral
• lantern
• chochin
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[lostinxlation]

I haven't heard of sleeping in the same room thing. I thought you shouldn't sleep at all. In general, when someone died, you should be awake all night to keep the candle lights on, which is where the term 通夜 comes from.

[softypapa]

I believe that you are indeed correct in noting that people will normally stay awake (TheJapanChannelDcom confirmed this as well). I guess that it is just my wife's family which does otherwise as when I asked her she told me she and her family slept through the night. I will update the info and annotations to reflect how things are supposted to be done. Thank you for your help. -Kurt :-)

[MicknFumi]

I just asked Fumi about it, coz her grandma died last weekend. She said, when you sleep in the same room, you have to stay awake to make sure a candle stays alight. Interesting vid Kurt, I didn't know about it.

[softypapa]

@MicknFumi That`s very interesting. I wonder what is thought to happen should the candle go out. Rather spooky methinks. -Kurt :-)

[kidzero22]

hey kurt, what's your wife family crest?

[softypapa]

@kidzero22 The Suzuki family crest consists of several plum blossoms arranged in a symmetrical pattern. I think that the bento shop Tenjinya uses the same crest. -Kurt :-)

[MicknFumi]

@fuzzypaws17 I don't like busy cities, no matter what country I'm in...places like Shibuya crossing in Tokyo kinda freak me out when I have a thousand people coming toward me that I have to weave my way through.

[MicknFumi]

@fuzzypaws17 Oh you removed your comment (not that there was anything wrong with it), but it still popped up in my inbox...Have a good one mate : )

[MicknFumi]

@fuzzypaws17 Sorry to hear about your wife mate...it would have been very hard.

[Claycat4]

What a lovely way to pay homage to a relative who has passed!

[hlhover]

Very touching....I never knew that Kurt. A loving way to honor someone who has died. I love the lanterns. Heather

[tetsuya6336]

Hey Kart, nice video!

I just realised that the family crest is similar to the one owned by a member of the 47 Ronins, Masatoki Nakamura(中村　正辰). If you dont know about the story of 47 ronins, you can refer to wikipedia by putting '47 ronins' in search blank.

So I guess that your wife's family is related to him somehow.