Saturday, May 7, 2011

What are the wooden planks at Japanese graves?

Question:


At Japanese graves, I've seen long, narrow wooden planks with writing running down them, usually standing upright behind the grave.

I was just wondering what these are, and what they represent.

Thanks :D

Answer:


They are called sotoba 卒塔婆 and have two functions: to mark the grave (like a tombstone) and as a very simplified representation of stupa (a sort of Buddhist monument and the origin of the word).

sotoba (Japanese)
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%92%E…

stupa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa

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