The Bon Festival

THE BON FESTIVAL. BY ELDER SANDFORD WELLS HEDGES, OF THE JAPANESE MISSIOIST. The meaning of the word ' 'bon" is wooden tray, and when an additional combination is made it means a feast in memory of the dead. The corresponding day in the lunar calendar for August 23 is July 13, and beginning on that day the above mentioned festival is celebrated. News reached me that the evening of August 23, would be unusually warm, as many bonfires were to be built in honor of the feast. Of course, it was rather difficult to conceive that the climatic conditions would be affected by the heat caused by a bonfire, when the longest lasts but five or ten minutes ;but the anticipation of enjoying the feast must have cast a spell over the people, similar in effect to that felt by our young people when at the approach of an ice cream party, they say there will be a "hot time," even though it may be in the dead of winter. Well, desiring to learn the significance and meaning of theceremonies used in connection with a feast, a conversation with a friend was begun. It required judgment to inquire about subjects pertaining to old and quaint beliefs and customs of the people, as they endeavor to evade all such talks, thinking that foreigners might make fun and chide them severely for believing in such trash, as the foreigners often style such actions. True to all Christians, the religious customs and beliefs of a heathen nation appear very crude and meaningless, but I allow that every one is entitled to his or her belief, and when we foreigners cannot place ourselves in the position of our friend and brother, then it is our-

THE BON FESTIVAL. 223 duty to say nothing offensive to the worshipers, as their worship is just as sacred and full of meaning to them, as ours is to us. The conversation was begun, and to my satisfaction my friend kindly answered my questions, telling me many interesting ceremonies pertaining to the feast. However, before the conversation began, the ceremony was performed, thus giving me the practical side first. Taking a handful of ' 'ogara" (the stem of hemp after the bark has been removed), my friend placed it at the entrance to the house, and ignited it with a match. One large blaze and a few cracks consumed most of the hemp. Next I noticed each one present take some flowers, dipping them in a basin of water, then sprinkling water on the fire until it was put out. Also, each person took a pipe, li I it by the fire, and took a puff or two of tobacco. These were my observations, and surely quite meaningless they were to me, but the conversation afterward enabled me to attach some meaning to it all. Makalbi or kadobi, means fire kindled before the door of a house on the 13th of July, to welcome and r^^ceive the spirits of the dead ones, who pay their respects to this world for a few days during this great festival. The conveyance in which the spirits come back to this earth is very odd. A figure of a horse made from white cumber, and one of a cow made from egg-plant, are supposed to carry the departed spirit to this earth. Whether the customs of the people had any influence in the framing of certain religious rites, or whether the religion was a base from which the customs were formed, I am not prepared to say, but it is a noticeable fact that the two correspond exactly in many instances. The foot-covering of the people is such that after a walk or ride of any length, the dust has accumulated to such an extent that it becomes necessary to at least rub off the dust with a damp rag before entering a house. Now, to have everything in perfect order for the reception of the dead one's spirit, a mixture of boiled, blue beans and rice is placed in the shrine by the horse and cow, to be used in washing the feet of the spirit before it enters the shrine, for the spirit always goes to the shrine. A question in regard to the flowers used in extinguishing the

224 IMPROVEMENT ERA. fire brought the reply that their names were the Bon Festival flower, the lespedeza, bicolot, the purple loose stripe, and the rush. It is absolutely necessary that the first three flowers be used, the other, or fourth one, may or may not be used, as the person chooses. As has been stated before, each Japanese present sprinkled some water on the fire, the object not only being to extinguish it, but also to invoke blessings from above. The purpose of taking a puflf of tobacco, lighted from the fire, I learned, was that the person who participated in that ceremony should not contract a cold or become subject to pimples. * ' Yakigome kui-kui o cha monde oide nasai, ' ' or translated into English, "While you eat this baked rice, deign to come in and have a drink of tea, " is a prayer which is offered while sprinkling the water on the fire. The objects in the shrine were interesting. There was tea, water, candy, squash, millet, and a kind of vermicella. These were offered as a gift to the departed spirit. There was also a package containing candles and incense sticks, tied up with a string half white and half black. This color of string is very necessary. Each night during the feast some one of the family must go to the graveyard, taking with him or her some small coin, incense, and the shikiU flower, together with a delicate-colored lantern, and there perform some act of adoration, the character of which I did not learn. After the ceremony is over, they return, hang the lantern up, letting the candle slowly burn away. Just a line or so more, then I will end. The shikihi flower is constantly used in different ceremonies, the flower being one (the meaning of which I do not know) which comes under my observation. When a person dies, the remaining members of the family each pick a leaf from the flower, dip some water up in it, and pour it down the dead one's throat. So much for the Bon Festival. .Sendai, Japan, Oct. 12, 1905.