Posthumous Buddhist Names in Modern Japan

Abstract

The religious component of funeral rites in modern day Japan is almost entirely under the jurisdiction of Buddhism. In this regard, Buddhism as a teaching has acquired a certain “funeral aura” in the eyes of the Japanese. As part of a Buddhist funeral, the Japanese, as a rule, receive a special posthumous name. This tradition was established in the Middle Ages, and the format of posthumous names has gradually changed – from Japanese multi-component names, similar to the names of deities, to a standard Chinese name of two hieroglyphs with moral and legal significance. In order to have a posthumous name assigned in a temple, a donation is collected, the amount of which varies depending on the region, temple and status of the name, as well as the wishes of the relatives of the deceased. Today, the tradition of assigning posthumous names is considered a service and is criticized for its exorbitant cost. The religious significance of posthumous names inevitably weakens in a consumer society.