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Once the family funeral is safely completed and they can take a breather, they begin preparations for the 49th day, a major milestone for the deceased.
The 49th day is also called the 77th day (nanunanuka or hichihichinichi), and is one of the most important days in Buddhism. Learn about its meaning and learn how to celebrate this day.
*There are many different sects of Buddhism, each with its own important beliefs. The content of this article does not apply to the beliefs of Jodo Shinshu. If you are unsure of your sect, it is a good idea to check with a temple or relatives.
What is the 49th day anyway?
In Buddhism, it is believed that the spirits of the deceased are reborn in the next world.
The next world refers to the six realms (hell, hungry ghosts, animals, asuras, humans, and heaven).
After death, the deceased becomes a spirit and goes on a 49-day journey to the underworld.
It is said that the lords of the underworld will then judge which world they will be born into next.
During this time, memorial services are held in the secular world so that the spirit of the deceased can be reborn in a better place.
The 49th day is the final day of the journey to the underworld, and the day of rebirth into the next world. For this reason, it is considered to be particularly important among memorial services.
Words you often hear during memorial services
Before explaining the memorial service, let's review some words that people often hear, saying, "I've heard them before, but I'm not quite sure what they mean."
"49th day" and "Full-time mourning"
When discussing a memorial service, you may have heard the term "Manchuin." This term is often used in the same context as "49 days," but what does it mean?
As mentioned above, after death, the spirit of the deceased travels to the underworld. This journey is called "chuin" and ends after 49 days.
It is called "Manchuin" because the journey has ended, or in other words, has been completed. Therefore, it can be said that "49 days" and "Manchuin" basically refer to the same day.
"Mourning period" and "mourning period"
"Mourning period" generally refers to the period up to 49 days after death, or "full mourning period."
The mourning period lasts for one year after the death.
Types of memorial services from after the funeral until the 49th day
In Buddhism, memorial services are held every seven days for 49 days from the date of death, as follows:
- Shonanuka (7th day)
- 27th day (2nd day)
- Minanuka (21st day)
- Forty-seventh day (Yonanuka, 28th day)
- 5th day (Itsunanuka, 35th day)
- Sixth and seventh day (Rokunanuka, 42nd day)
- Nanunanuka (49th day)
Seventh-day memorial service
On the seventh day after death, the spirit of the deceased is said to undergo its first trial by King Shinko. After this trial, the spirit crosses the Sanzu River and heads to the afterlife (the underworld).
In the secular world, a plain wooden altar is set up and plain wooden memorial tablets, ashes, a portrait of the deceased, etc. are placed there. Arrangements and preparations are generally made by the funeral home.
Recently, it seems that the first seven-day memorial service is often held immediately after the funeral or memorial service, rather than on the seventh day after the death. This is mainly due to the busy schedules of the bereaved family and those involved, and is not considered disrespectful to the deceased.
57th day memorial service
It is said that on the 35th day after death, there is a judgment by King Enma, which determines the next world one will be reborn into.
Usually, the mourning period ends on the 49th day, but sometimes this memorial service is the end of the mourning period.
One of the reasons for this is that they dislike the three-month "Chuin" (the period of journey to the underworld).
The reason for this dislike is said to be that the phrase "49 days, three months" sounds similar to "suffering all the time."
77th day memorial service (49th day)
The next world to which the deceased's spirit will go is decided on the 35th day after death, and on the 49th day, King Taishan judges the way in which they will be reborn.
And with this judgment, the deceased's "journey to the underworld" comes to an end.
Generally, this is an important memorial service that marks the end of the mourning period, so in addition to the temple and family, relatives, friends of the deceased, and neighbors are invited to attend.
Burial of remains (interment) is also often done on this day, but recently there has been an increase in people who would like to postpone the interment.
In that case, you may want to consult with the temple or your family and choose to either bury the ashes on the first anniversary of the death or divide the ashes and hold a memorial service at home.
・Preparation to be made before the 49th day
It is believed that the spirit of the deceased is reborn after the 49th day, so the memorial tablet is also changed from a plain wooden memorial tablet to a real memorial tablet. It takes about two weeks to write the characters on the memorial tablet.
What should the "host" who holds the memorial service do?
The first thing to decide when holding a memorial service is who will be the host. Generally, the person who served as the chief mourner at the funeral will be the host. Make sure to prepare as much as you can.
- Consult with the family temple to decide the date and time of the memorial service
- Decide on the location of the memorial service and parking
- Prepare and send invitations
- Prepare the order of incense offerings and the offerings
- Decide on the food and seating arrangements for the memorial service after the memorial service
- Prepare a memorial speech
- Prepare an offering
From the funeral until the 49th day, the deceased will be on their journey to the underworld. We should hold memorial services to ensure that they can have a good end to their journey.
In Buddhism, it is said that the spirit of the deceased travels to the underworld for 49 days before being reborn.
Preparing for a funeral or memorial service can be overwhelming for surviving family members.
In such cases, knowing the reason for the memorial service may help you find meaning in the act. However, the Jodo Shinshu sect thinks differently.
If you would like to know more about memorial services, you may ask the temple during the memorial service.
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