A Butsudan [仏壇] is literally a “Buddhist altar,” a sanctuary commonly found in temples and homes in Japan. It usually contains a series of subsidiary religious accessories, called butsugu, such as candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and platforms to place offerings like fruits, tea, or rice.
Some Buddhist sects place memorial tablets ihai, ashes of the deceased for deceased relatives inside or near the butsudan. The defined space occupied by the butsudan is referred to as Butsuma.
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The arrangement of the butsudan
A butsudan is a defined platform, often ornate or simply a wooden cabinet sometimes created with doors that attach and protect a religious icon or Gohonzon, usually a statue or painting of a Buddha or a bodhisattva, or a calligraphic mandala scroll.
If there are doors used, the sanctuary consecrates the Gohonzon icon during religious observances and closes after use. In the case of no doors, a brocade or white cloth is sometimes placed to render its sacred space.
Meaning of the Butsudan in Japanese culture
Traditional Japanese beliefs associate this sanctuary with a house of Buddha, the Bodhisattva, and the deceased relatives consecrated within it. In some Buddhist sects, when this sanctuary is replaced or repaired by the family, a restoration ceremony follows.
The sanctuary is commonly seen as an essential part of the life of a traditional Japanese family, as it is the center of spiritual faith within the family, especially in dealing with the death of family members or reflecting on the lives of ancestors.
This is more frequent in many rural areas, where it is common for most households to own a butsudan, in contrast to urban and suburban areas, where the ownership rate is less frequent.
This is truly unique to Japan. No other Buddhist country participates in this practice (except for some Mongolians). Due to having so many temples in other Asian countries, people do not need to make altars in their homes. Shinto also has a similar sanctuary called Kamidana. This sanctuary is often a suspended miniature of a Shinto temple.
Where to buy a Butsudan?
Unfortunately, those living abroad need to turn to the internet to purchase a butsudan altar. To conclude the article, I will leave a list of related products on the Ebay site for you to take a quick look:
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