Midyear - Chugen

Originally, it was one of the three-year beliefs of Chinese Taoism, along with Shangyuan on January 15th and Xiangyuan on October 15th, and it refers to the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It was originally a day of atonement to worship the gods (Jigū) who distinguish between good and evil and forgive human sins, but this became associated with the Buddhist Obon festival and became an ancestor worship event. In Japan, on this day, it is customary to worship the ancestors, celebrate the health of the deceased for the last six months by visiting each other to deepen friendships, make offerings to Buddha, pray for the souls of the dead to rest in peace, and give rice, noodles, sweets, fruit, etc. to symbolize a meal with the ancestors. This custom was particularly prevalent during the Edo period, but today this gift-giving is called Chugen. In some regions, it is called Bonku, Bonseibo, Bonmimai, etc., and there is also the custom of sending paper lanterns to houses where the first bon is being celebrated, and examples of using foodstuffs called Bonzakana. In recent years, as part of business policy, the custom of giving midyear gifts to seniors, superiors, bosses, clients, etc. has arisen, and fans, hand towels, food, drinks, etc. are used, but there are also companies and stores that distribute summer allowances to employees as "somen fee".

[Hisako Maruyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

本来は、1月15日の上元、10月15日の下元と並ぶ中国の道教の三元信仰の一つで、陰暦7月15日をいう。善悪を判別し人間の罪を許す神（地宮）を祭る贖罪(しょくざい)の日とされたが、これが仏教の盂蘭盆会(うらぼんえ)と結び付いて祖先崇拝行事になった。日本ではこの日に、祖霊を祭り、半年生存の息災を祝って親類縁者が互いに訪問しあって交情を深め、仏に物を供え、死者の霊の冥福(めいふく)を祈り、祖霊との共食を意味して白米、麺(めん)類、菓子、果物などを贈る習わしがあり、江戸時代はとくに盛んに行われたが、現在はこの贈答を中元とよぶようになった。盆供(ぼんく)、盆歳暮(ぼんせいぼ)、盆見舞いなどとよぶ地方もあり、新盆の家には提灯(ちょうちん)を贈る風習や、盆ざかなと称してとくになまぐさものを使う例もみられる。近年は商業政策上、先輩、上役、上司、得意先などへ中元の贈り物をする風習がおこり、扇、手拭(てぬぐい)、食料、飲料などが用いられるが、夏季手当を「素麺(そうめん)料」として従業員に配る会社や商店などもみられる。

［丸山久子］

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