RT Article
T1 Mortuary Rites for Inanimate Objects: The Case of Hari Kuyō
JF Japanese journal of religious studies
VO 27
IS 3/4
SP 379
OP 404
A1 Kretschmer, Angelika 1957-
LA English
YR 2000
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1703870948
AB In Japan, as in other industrialized countries, old and broken objects mostly end up in the trash. Some items, however, end their "lives" with a special ritual. This article is the first serious Western-language treatment of mortuary rites (kuyō) for inanimate objects. The history of these rites, the Buddhist and Shinto justifications for them, and the motivations of the participants in them are among the topics about which little is known. In an attempt to enhance our knowledge of kuyo, this article examines mortuary rites for needles-objects which are emblematic of women. The goddess connected to the rites is introduced, and mortuary rites for needles performed today at three locations in Tokyo are described.
K1 Buddhism
K1 Ceremonial objects
K1 Deities
K1 Funerary rituals
K1 Priests
K1 Religious rituals
K1 Religious Studies
K1 Sewing needles