Ihai Spirit Tablets: A Guide to Japanese Ancestor Worship
If you have ever visited a traditional Japanese home or peeked into the main hall of a Buddhist temple, you may have noticed distinct, upright wooden tablets adorned with gold lettering. These are Ihai (位牌), or spirit tablets. Far more than mere memorial plaques, they are considered the physical residence of an ancestor’s spirit. For the cultural traveler, understanding the Ihai is key to grasping the profound depth of Japanese family bonds and their unique syncretism of Buddhism and ancestor worship.
Introduction
In Japan, death does not signify a permanent departure from the family unit. Instead, the deceased become guardian spirits, watching over the household from the Butsudan (Buddhist altar). The central focus of this veneration is the Ihai. Typically made of black lacquered wood with gold leaf trim, the tablet bears the posthumous Buddhist name of the deceased, known as kaimyo.
To the uninitiated, it looks like an elegant piece of carpentry. To a Japanese family, it is the ancestor. It is where the spirit resides when visiting the altar to receive offerings of rice, water, and incense.
Origins: From Confucianism to Buddhism
The concept of the spirit tablet did not originate in Japan. It traces its roots back to ancient China and Confucianism, where tablets were used to list the names of ancestors for rites of filial piety. As Buddhism traveled from India through China and finally to Japan, it absorbed various local customs.
During the Kamakura (1185–1333) and Muromachi (1336–1573) periods, the Zen sect of Buddhism heavily adopted the use of spirit tablets. Over centuries, the practice filtered down from the aristocracy and samurai class to the common people. By the Edo period (1603–1867), the system of danka (temple parishioners) made it mandatory for families to be registered with a Buddhist temple, solidifying the Ihai and the home altar as staples of Japanese domestic life.
The Legend and Spiritual Journey
While there are no specific mythological monsters associated with Ihai, the lore surrounding the object is deeply tied to the journey of the soul. According to Japanese Buddhist tradition, when a person passes away, they do not immediately enter the Pure Land. They undergo a journey of 49 days.
The Temporary and the Permanent
During these 49 days, the spirit is in a state of limbo. Families use a temporary tablet made of unfinished white wood, called a shiraki-ihai. It is believed that the spirit is fragile and unsettled during this time.
The Eye-Opening Ceremony
On the 49th day, a significant ritual occurs: the Kaigen-kuyo (Eye-Opening Ceremony). A priest chants sutras to transfer the spirit from the temporary white tablet to the permanent black lacquered Ihai. It is said that without this ritual, the black tablet is merely wood; with it, the object becomes the living vessel of the ancestor. Legends warn that failing to care for the Ihai can lead to muen-botoke—unconnected, wandering spirits who may bring misfortune to the household because they have no home to return to.
Modern Culture and Evolution
In contemporary Japan, the tradition of the Ihai faces challenges from urbanization and changing demographics. Traditional Ihai are often large and require a substantial altar, which is difficult to accommodate in tiny Tokyo apartments.
Modern Design
To adapt, a new industry of “Modern Ihai” has emerged. These are smaller, stylish designs made of crystal, glass, or rare woods that blend into modern living rooms without looking overtly religious.
The Problem of Succession
A growing cultural issue is the lack of successors to care for these tablets. When a family line ends, there is no one to offer water or incense. Temples now offer eitai-kuyo (eternal memorial services), where they ritually burn the family Ihai and transfer the spirit to a collective temple monument, ensuring the ancestors are not abandoned even if the family line ceases.
Traveler’s Tips
If you are interested in viewing Ihai or the culture surrounding them, here is how to do so respectfully:
- Where to Look: You will rarely see Ihai in a museum. The best place to observe them is in the side halls of active Buddhist temples. Look for rows of golden tablets; these are usually the mortuary tablets of high-ranking monks or patrons.
- Photography: Strictly forbidden. Never photograph a specific Ihai, especially in a private home or a temple interior. It is considered a violation of privacy and spiritually intrusive.
- Antique Markets: You may occasionally find old Ihai in antique shops or flea markets. Do not buy them. It is considered extremely bad luck (and culturally taboo) to own the spirit tablet of a stranger. These are items that should have been ritually burned by a temple, not sold as souvenirs.
Sources & Further Reading
For those wishing to dive deeper into the spiritual history of Japan:
- The Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) & Nihon Shoki: While these 8th-century texts primarily focus on Shinto mythology and the Imperial line, they establish the foundational Japanese worldview where the line between the living and the dead is permeable—a concept that allowed the Buddhist Ihai to flourish.
- Japanese Death Rituals by E.L. Suzuki: An excellent anthropological look at how funerals and memorial tablets function in society.
- Ancestor Worship in Contemporary Japan by Robert J. Smith: A comprehensive study on the role of the Butsudan and Ihai in family structures.