The seventh day after death - Shona Nuka

The seventh day after death, and a memorial service held on that day. It is also called "Shonanoka." It was believed that the taboo of death would end every seven days, so the first seven days are the first opportunity to end the severe taboo. Distant relatives return to their daily lives. The bereaved visit the grave and harden the soil of the earthen mounds, and at home they clean up the altar, a ritual called danbarai, and place the memorial tablet in the Buddhist altar. A monk is also invited to recite sutras, and relatives and friends gather. Afterwards, they eat vegetarian food to end their vegetarian period. In recent years, many relatives and friends live far away, so there are cases where the first seven days are completed immediately after the funeral.

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

死亡後7日目、またその日の供養行事。「しょなのか」ともいう。死の忌みは7日ごとに明けていくものと考えられていたから、初七日は最初の、厳重な忌みの明ける機会である。血縁の遠い人は日常生活に戻る。遺族は墓参して土饅頭(どまんじゅう)の土を固め、家では壇(だん)ばらいといって祭壇をかたづけ、位牌(いはい)を仏壇に祀(まつ)り替える。また僧を招いて読経(どきょう)してもらい、親族・知友も集まってくる。あとで精進(しょうじん)料理で精進上げ（精進落とし）をする。近年は親族・知友も遠方に居住する人が多いので、初七日を葬式直後に済ませてしまう例がみられる。

［井之口章次］

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