Shadow meal - Shadow meal

A meal offered at the home of a family member who is away traveling, praying for their safety and that they will not starve on the journey. It is done at the home of a family member who is on a long journey such as traveling around the country or visiting a shrine, or at the home of a family member who is working away from home, but it was also done for soldiers going off to war during wartime and for school trips in recent years. The practice of offering a memorial meal has gradually fallen out of use, but it is still practiced today when a family member is lost and their life or death is unknown. The same meal or favorite food as that of the family member is offered on the Shinto altar, tokonoma, or in the person's usual seat. It can be done at every meal, or only on special days such as the first three days of the New Year or festivals. If rice or soup is found on the lid of the bowl, it is rejoiced as it is a sign of safety. There are various ways in which the meal that has been taken away is eaten by the head of the household and children, or eaten by the whole family. Since the meal served to the dead is completely different from the meal served to the family, and consists of a side dish containing kelp and pickled vegetables that could be considered a sacred offering, or is offered on a Shinto altar or in a similar special place, it is often thought that the Kagezen meal originated from a belief in praying for a safe journey, but it is actually a matter of popular belief.

[Masaru Sasaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

旅などで不在の家人のために、道中の飢えがないようにと、無事を祈って留守宅で供える膳。回国や神詣(かみもう)でなどによる長旅、出稼ぎの留守宅で行われるが、戦時中の出征者や近年の修学旅行者に対しても行われた。陰膳を供えることはしだいにみられなくなっているが、遭難して生死が不明である場合には、現在でも行われている。神棚や床の間あるいは当人の常の座に、家人と同じ膳か好物を供える。食事のたびであったり、正月三が日や祭りなどのハレの日だけであったりする。飯や汁のつゆが椀(わん)の蓋(ふた)についていると、無事であるしるしとして喜んだりする。下げた膳についても、主人や子供が食したり、家族一同でこれにあたったり、いろいろである。家人の膳とはまったく異なる、神饌(しんせん)用とでもいうべき昆布(こんぶ)入りのおかずとなますを添えたり、神棚とかそれに類する特定の場所に供える事例から、陰膳が旅の無事を願う信仰に端を発していると考えられがちだが、俗信の領域のものである。

［佐々木勝］

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