In Japan, O Higan occurs during the middle day of the autumnal equinoctial week. O higan has Buddhist origins and means a state of enlightenment without worldly desires. During the Vernal and autumn Equinox the length of day and night are equal, and the sun sets in the due west. Amitabha, Amida Butsu is one of the five wisdoms of Vairocana Buddha, he was born in the west. Amida Butsu presides over the pure land paradise in Buddhism this is considered to be in the far west. So in Japan people started to do Buddhist services during this time to honor ancestors and deceased relatives. Across Japan temples welcome visitors for celebratory events, since the 1940’s it’s been a national holiday. The Lycoris radiata, known as the red spider lily in Japanese ‘Higanbana” means the other, such as that shore of the Sanzu midst-shrouded River of Three Roads, Rivers of Three Crossings that souls must safely cross to reach the other side………And Yes, there is a ferryman in the story, and a soul needs six coins to get across………………
The red spider lily is a charming flower to view and photograph, due to it’s time of year in bloom, it is sensationalized and labeled with meanings to provide public interest. Currently, I am enjoying a couple of weeks holiday with family at our beach home by the Sea of Japan. In the coming days, we will be attending Buddhist celebratory events.