haley's great blog of fun

haka

We have a lot of these tombs around our house...


I didn't really know a lot about them til I read what Wikipedia had to say:

Traditionally, periodic gatherings of the extended family occur at the family shinju (haka), or "tomb". The tombs resemble houses, complete with a courtyard (naa), family name markers, and "porch" upon which offerings are arranged. Inside the tomb is stored the cremated remains (funishin) of several generations of family members. Although responsibilities may vary on a case-by-case basis, generally it is the oldest male of a family whose financial responsibility is upkeep for existing tombs and establishment of new tombs once the old are full or should it be destroyed.

Various taboos exist in relation to the tomb. It is rude to point at a tomb, speak loudly concerning the dead around a tomb, or take pictures of a tomb without expressed permission ...oops. It is considered dangerous to descecrate a tomb with graffiti, by disturbing offerings such as flowers, or by damaging the tomb in any way. Also considered dangerous may be to approach a tomb without proper authority (such as relation to the family) or to visit a tomb at night.

During a typical extended family gathering at the tomb, incense, food, offering, and prayers are offered to ancestors, and then a picnic is enjoyed by those in attendance.

Especially important is the thirty-third year after a relative's death; at this point, the deceased individual is believed to have taken his place with all his ancestors in the afterlife.

posted by Haley B @ 12:15 PM