BUTSUDAN

Buddhist family altar found in Japanese homes, usually in addition to the Shinto kamidana ("god shelf"). The Buddhist altar generally contains memorial tablets for dead ancestors and in accordance with sect affiliation, representations of various Buddhist divinities.

Incense and candles are lit and flowers are offered by the devout at simple daily services and periodically the family ancestors are memoralized before the butsudan.

The formal precedent for household altars was probably the establishment in 655 AD of a court chapel; an Imperial order called for similar sanctuaries to be set up in every house.

During the 17th century, as a part of a measure yo eliminate Christianity, Buddhist priests were required by the governmento to periodically examine households in their parish to see if butsudans were properly maintained.

Today the butsudan is frequently found in those homes that have given up the Shinto "god shelf".