Kyokatabira - shroud

These funeral clothes are made of white cotton and have sutras written on them to resemble the appearance of a monk. They are also called myoe or joe. This custom arose from a teaching in esoteric Buddhist scriptures that says that even if one falls into hell, they will be reborn in the Pure Land through the power of Dharani, and the format varies depending on the sect. There are various ways of doing things, such as having women who are related to the deceased gather together and have several of them sew at the same time, pulling on each other, or having another person sew the leggings and tabi socks, leaving the ends of the threads untied. There is also a custom of visiting sacred mountains and temples around the country while one is still alive and getting the clothes prepared by stamping them with temple seals.

[Masao Fujii]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

僧の姿になぞらえて白木綿に経文を記した死装束。明衣(みょうえ)とも浄衣(じょうえ)ともいう。たとえ地獄に落ちても陀羅尼(だらに)の威力で浄土に生まれるとする密教経典の所説から生じた習俗で、書式は宗派によって異なる。死者と有縁の女性が集まって何人かが引っ張り合って同時に縫ったり、脚絆(きゃはん)や足袋(たび)を別の人が縫い、糸尻(いとじり)を止めないなどの作法がある。生前に全国霊山霊場を巡って寺印を押して用意するなどの習俗もみられる。

［藤井正雄］

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