Gravestones and grave markers - Bohibohyo

Japanese: 墓碑･墓標 - ぼひぼひょう

A gravestone is something that is erected on a grave and records the name, year of death, and achievements of the deceased. It can be made of stone, wood, or ceramic. A grave marker, on the other hand, is something that indicates the burial place of the dead in a cemetery, and is often made of natural stone, processed stone, or wood. However, both gravestones and grave markers are sometimes called gravestones or gravestones, and those made of stone towers are also called grave towers. Even when processed stone is used, many are placed flat rather than standing. The practice of placing or standing stones on top of buried bodies has been seen since the Paleolithic period, and was probably done to mark the burial place as a grave marker, protect the body from being dug up by wild animals, and appease and worship the spirits of the dead.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

墓碑は死者の名や没年，生前の事績などを記して墓に立てるもので，石製のほか木製や陶製のものもある。これに対して墓標は，墓地において死者の埋葬場所を標示するものをさし，自然石や加工した石のもの，木製などが多い。しかし墓碑も墓標もともに墓碑と呼んだり，墓石（はかいし∥ぼせき）という場合もあり，石塔を用いたものは墓塔とも呼ぶ。また加工した石材を用いても，立てるのではなく平らに置くものも多い。　死者を埋葬した上に石を置いたり立てたりすることは，旧石器時代以来みられ，墓標として埋葬地を明らかにするとともに，野獣などが遺体を掘り起こすことから守ったり，また死者の霊を鎮め，祭るためにも行われたであろう。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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