Memorial service - Tsuizen

Also called "tsuisen" or "tsuifuku", it means to perform good deeds to pray for the repose of the deceased, and to reduce or remove the bad deeds of the deceased. It also refers to Buddhist memorial services held for the repose of the deceased. In the fifth chapter of the "Ubasaka Sutra", it is written, "If one has lost his father and has fallen into the hungry ghost state, and one performs a memorial service for the sake of his son, one should know that he will be able to do so immediately." In other sutras, it is said that by cultivating good roots and virtues, one can eliminate the suffering of one's parents in the bad realms. It is especially necessary to perform memorial services for the deceased during the intermediate period. The second volume of the "Bonmokyo Sutra" states that on the day of the death of parents, siblings, monks, and ajari, and during the interment period, Mahayana sutras should be recited and lectured, and a ceremony should be held to seek blessings. The eleventh chapter of the "Kanjokyo Sutra" states that since the sins and blessings of the deceased are not yet determined during the interment period, if one practices blessings such as making banners and flags, the deceased will receive the merits and be reborn in the ten directions of the earth. Memorial ceremonies are generally held on the 77th day of the interment period, as well as on the 100th day, the first anniversary, the third anniversary, the seventh anniversary, or the 100th anniversary.

[Akiyoshi Sasaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

追薦(ついせん)あるいは追福(ついふく)ともいい、追福修善または追福作善のこと。死者の冥福(めいふく)を祈って善事を追修し、死者の悪業を軽減し、あるいは除去すること。また死者の冥福のために営む仏事法要をもいう。『優婆塞戒経(うばそくかいきょう)』第五に「若(も)し父喪して已(すで)に餓鬼(がき)中に堕し、子為(ため)に追福せば、当(まさ)に知るべし即(すなわ)ち得ん」とあるのをはじめ、諸経典には、追って善根福徳を修することによって、父母の悪趣(あくしゅ)の苦を除去できることが説かれる。とくに中陰(ちゅういん)中にあっては、亡者のために追善を営むことが必要とされる。『梵網経(ぼんもうきょう)』巻下には、父母兄弟・和上(わじょう)・阿闍梨(あじゃり)などの亡滅の日、そして中陰中には大乗の経律を読誦(どくじゅ)講説し、斎会(さいえ)を催して福を求めるべきであるといい、『灌頂経(かんじょうきょう)』第11には、中陰中にあっては罪福がいまだ定まらないから幡(ばん)や幢(どう)をつくるなどの福を修せば、亡者がその功徳(くどく)を承(う)けて十方(じっぽう)の刹土(せつど)に往生(おうじょう)すると説かれる。追善の法会(ほうえ)は、一般に七七日(しちしちにち)の中陰をはじめとして、百箇日、一周忌、三回忌、七回忌、ないし百回忌などが催される。

［佐々木章格］

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