Something interesting to know about burial customs in Japanese culture is that it has changed as time progressed and as more humane ways of burials came along. Japan is a country located off the coast of North and South Korea (japan-guide.com). Death rituals have been a part of the Japanese culture ever since religion has been introduced. To have a population of 127 million people (“Japan Population”), the customs and beliefs of the Japanese culture is a major part of everyday life and plays a major role in death rituals. It has a mixed ratio of religious beliefs and practices but it mainly deals with Buddhist beliefs. The Japanese have interesting death beliefs and customs
Throughout the change of beliefs and main cultural practices, Japanese death rituals have become more humane in dealing with respect for the body and taking care of the deceased person’s body. Since the family was responsible of the body during earlier times, most of the bodies did not get the respect needed. Most of them were thrown into rivers or were put in shallow graves. An example is, “Before then, by and large, the disposal of dead bodies was left entirely to the family. In some districts, particularly western Japan, corpses were either buried in shallow graves, which were used over and over again as communal burial pits, or they were merely dumped by the bank of a river. There is even a word for these “graves,” sutebaka, which comes from two words: suteru, meaning “to abandon or throw away,” and haka, meaning “grave.” (Pulvers). Another example is, “In earlier times, the family of the deceased would be responsible for preparation of the body for burial.”(Namkoong). This shows that before the respectful ways of burial came along, the bodies were disposed of and not given a proper burial since the family is responsible. As time has progressed and more proper ways have come along, bodies can be cremated or embalmed and given a proper burial for the loved ones to visit.
The beliefs of the rituals change depending on what that person’s family believes in and was raised on. Although it does change between people, it mainly deals with giving the deceased body’s proper burial and to let its soul be at peace. It has a system depending on if they would like to cremate the person’s body or bury it, it is out of respect for their afterlife and their spiritual respect and for the soul to be at peace. An example is, “These constitute the beginnings of the realization of death among primitive people who have just begun to evolve a form of civilization and culture. They might also be said to constitute the simplest foundation of a death system, although, as we shall observe later, the externals and social ramifications of the Japanese death system did not develop fully until the advent of Buddhism. But even in those prehistoric days, evidence may be found that suggests to us the kinds of attitudes that had developed.” (Picken). This shows that even before Buddhist came along that there were beliefs of death, but it did not strengthen until Buddhist came along. An example of the beliefs of life after death in the Japanese culture is, “Shinto traditions lean heavily on the concepts of the presence of kami and not reincarnation. The spiritual energy, or kami, in everyone is released and recycled at the time of death. The spirits live in another world, the most sacred of which is called “the other world of heaven.” These other worlds are not seen as a paradise or a punishment. Instead the worlds are simply where the spirits reside. They can connect and visit the present world when people correctly perform rituals and festivals.” (“Understanding Shinto”). This shows that the Japanese people believe in life after death and that the deceased do go to some heavenly place depending on how that person has lived their life and what that person did while still alive.
The symbolism of burial customs in Japan is the Cherry Blossom Tree. It shows the respect, honor, and gratitude towards the person who has passed. It has also been used to symbolize honor and respect for the warriors that have passed away fighting for Japan and now symbolizes respect and honor of loved ones and what was achieved in that person’s lifetime. It also symbolizes the shortness in life and how so beauty fades so quickly. An example is, “The Japanese cherry blossom is interpreted as 'transient of life', since it is very fragile and has a short blooming period.” (“Gardenerdy”). Another example of its symbolism is, “A fallen cherry blossom flower also has emotional connections in the minds of Japanese. A fallen cherry blossom is a symbolic representation of a fallen Samurai who lost his life in battle. Kamikaze pilots used this flower as a symbol of their missions. It represented the sacrifice that a young Japanese made for his country. People also believe that these flowers are the souls of the warriors who lost their lives in battle.”(“Gardenerdy”). These two passages show that in the Japanese culture, Cherry Blossoms hold a very symbolic meaning to the history of Japan and for the people that died for Japan.
Out of the country of Japan, the 127 million people (“Japan Population”) that live there, death rituals, customs, and beliefs have been pasted down for generations and have slightly changed as time goes on, but even then, they haven’t changed much from the past of the country’s old traditions. Japan has a very interesting culture, and a very interesting way to coop and deal with deaths as the country still grows and evolves.