Sending off a meal - Okurizen

In the case of ceremonies such as festivals and ceremonial occasions, when a person who should have been present is unable to attend the formal meal, the food that was served there is sent to the absent person in its entirety, which is called "okuri-zen." In the case of meals during ceremonies such as those mentioned above, there are certain people who must eat together, and eating the same food at the same table strengthens the bond between the people. This awareness was especially strong on festival days, when it was a direct meeting not only with humans but also with gods. The absence of someone who should have been at that table meant a lack of bond, so people thought that by sending a meal and arranging a common meal, they could increase the bond. The ancients' thoughts about food were conscious of forces that people today cannot even imagine, and they felt that there was meaning in eating food cooked over the same fire together, which is why the custom of okuri-zen was born.

[Hisako Maruyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

祭礼や冠婚葬祭などの儀礼に際し、当然列席すべき人が正式食事の席に出られなかった場合、そこに饗(きょう)せられた食物をそっくり欠席者の許(もと)に送り届けることを送り膳という。上述のような儀礼の際の食事には、かならず共食しなければならない定まった人があって、同じものを同じ席で食べるそのことが、互いの結合を強める意味があった。とくに祭りの日には、人間だけではなく神との直会(なおらい)であったので、いっそうこの意識は強かった。その座に連なるはずの人がいないということは、それだけ結合力に欠けることになるので、食膳を送って共食する形を整え、結合の力を加えようと考えたのである。古人の食物に対する考え方は、現在の人々の思い及ばぬ力を意識していたもので、同じ火で煮炊きしたものをいっしょに食べることに意義を感じていたことから、送り膳の風習が生まれたのである。

［丸山久子］

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