Intermediate period - Intermediate period

An intermediate existence between death and the next life. A translation of the Sanskrit term antarā-bhava. It can also be translated as chuu. Both yin and u mean existence. In Buddhism, in relation to the idea of ​​reincarnation, one cycle of the existence of living things is divided into four stages (four states). That is, the intermediate state, the living state, the original state, and the dead state. Of these, the living state is the moment of conception, the original state is the moment of death, the original state is one's lifetime, and the intermediate state is an existence between the living state and the dead state. The intermediate state is divided into seven stages, each lasting seven days, and there is an opportunity to reach the living state at the end of each stage, and it is said that all living things reach the living state by the 77th day (49th day) at the latest. During this time, the family members hold a memorial service every seven days, and on the 49th day, a memorial service is held. The 49th day is thought to be related to the period it takes for a corpse to completely decompose.

[Akira Sadakata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

死んでから次の生を受けるまでの中間期における存在。サンスクリット語アンタラー・ババantarā-bhavaの訳。中有(ちゅうう)とも訳す。陰(いん)も有(う)も存在の意。仏教では輪廻(りんね)の思想に関連して、生物の存在様式の一サイクルを四段階（四有(しう)）に分ける。すなわち、中有、生有(しょうう)、本有(ほんぬ)、死有(しう)であり、このうち生有はいわば受精の瞬間、死有は死の瞬間であり、本有はいわゆる一生、中有は死有と生有の中間の存在である。中有は7日刻みに七段階に分かれ、各段階の最終時に生有に至る機会があり、遅くとも七七日（四十九日(しじゅうくにち)）までにはすべての生物が生有に至るとされている。遺族はこの間、7日ごとに供養を行い、四十九日目には満中陰(まんちゅういん)の法事を行う。四十九日という時間は、死体の腐敗しきる期間に関連するとみられる。

［定方　晟］

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