Hungry Ghosts (gaki)

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Hungry Demons, Hungry Ghosts (gaki)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various Seasons, see below
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

The Hungry Ghosts are part of the Six Realms of Existence,
rokudoo　六道　of the Buddhist religion.

...................The Six Realms, Six States of Existence

The World of Devas or Gods
The World of Asuras, Demigods, Titans, Fighting Demons
The World of Humans
The World of Animals
The World of Hungry Ghosts
The World of Hell


source :　kita-ku.jugem.j Osaka
Entrance to the Six Realms 六道の辻, 六道珍皇寺


Here is a proverb about these hungry demons:

Sangai ni kaki nashi;
Rokudo ni hotori nashi.

There is no fence to the Three States of Existence;
-- there is no neighborhood to the Six Roads.*

*Within the Three States (Sangai), or universes, of Desire, Form, and Formlessness;

and within the Six Worlds, or conditions of being,--Jigokudo (Hell), Gakido (Pretas), Chikushodo (Animal Life), Shurado (World of Fighting and Slaughter), Ningendo (Mankind), Tenjodo (Heavenly Spirits)
http://manybooks.net/pages/hearnlafetext058igjp10/84.html


The Six Realms in Buddhism, by my friend Mark Schumacher
Oni, Demons and Buddhist Art

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a bad boy, warugaki 悪ガキ　

demons, jaki 邪気

Little Demon, the Amanojaku (Amanjaku 天邪鬼) of my area, Okayama.



Bizen statue by Mondo Takagaki
Amanojaku of Ohaga

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Kigo for Late Summer

Memorial Day for Akutagawa Ryunosuke, July 24 Akutagawa Ryuunosuke
Gaki ki 餓鬼忌, Kappa ki 河童忌, Chookoodoo ki　澄江堂

His Haiku-Name (haigoo 俳号) was Gaki and Chookoodoo (Chokodo Shujin)

芥川龍之介 （あくたがわ りゅうのすけ）
１８９２（明治３５）３,１－１９２７（昭和２）７,２４（自殺３６歳）

光りおり餓鬼忌に偲ぶ蜘蛛の糸
hikari ori Gaki Ki no shinobu kumo no ito

the threat of a spider
sparkles to remind us -
Akutagawa Memorial Day
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

http://homepage1.nifty.com/rmtr/sousaku/haiku.html


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Kigo for Early Autumn

Welcoming the souls at the six crossroads,
Rokudoo Mairi 六道参
At the beginning of the BON festival.
on the 9th and 10th day of the seventh lunar month.
Now August 7 to 10.
Visiting the temple Rokudoo Chinnooji 六道珍皇寺 Kokudo Chinno-Ji
at Higashiyama, Kyoto

flowers at the Six Roads, rokudoo no hana 六道の花


Offering food and drink to the hungry ghosts,
Segaki 施餓鬼
..... segaki e 施餓鬼会（せがきえ）
Segaki dera 施餓鬼寺（せがきでら）temple with a Segaki ceremony
Segakidana 施餓鬼棚（せがきだな）shelf for Segaki offerings
..... Segaki dan 施餓鬼檀（せがきだん）



Segakibata 施餓鬼幡（せがきばた）flag for Segaki
They are offered to temples and at graveyards.


Segaki-E 施餓鬼会（せがきえ）at the temple Kogawadera and a haiku stone of Matsuo Basho



kawa segaki 川施餓鬼（かわせがき）Segaki ceremony near a river
umi segaki 海施餓鬼（うみでがき）Segaki ceremony near the seaside
..... suiriku e 水陸会（すいりくえ）
"ceremony near water and on land"
to let the souls take off in a boat
segakibune 施餓鬼舟（せがきぶね）Segaki boat



mukaegane 迎鐘（むかえがね) "welcoming bell"

迎鐘ならぬ前から露のちる
mukaegane naranu mae kara tsuyu no chiru

evene before
the welcoming bells
dewdrops scatter

Kobayashi Issa



makiuri, maki uri 槇売 （まきうり）
vendor of podocarpus

rice for the hungry ghosts, gaki meshi 餓鬼飯

World Kigo Database : Bon Stove, bongama


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Worldwide Use

In China and Taiwan, the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts
Celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th Lunar month, now mostly in mid-august.

ANCESTORS AND GHOSTS: By Darren A. Bryant WKD Library


The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of five major Chinese observances. Read how this festival came about.
http://ndnd.essortment.com/hungryghostfes_opi.htm


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first day of Ghost Month ...
will Jesus and Buddha dwell
as my neighbors?

dark silhouettes
wander under moonlit sky ...
Ghost Festival


Note:
The seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar is regarded as Ghost Month.
During the month, the gates of Heaven and Hell are opened to free the hungry spirits of the dead who then wander to seek food in the world of the living people. In order to avoid bad luck caused by ghosts or to pay homage to their deceased ancestors, the Chinese burn paper money, paper TV sets, and even paper cars and houses, and most importantly, prepare all sorts of food, to please their dead relatives or ghosts and to help them live happily in their “lifeworld.”

The Chinese view the fifteenth of the month as the most important day to give a feast to please the ghosts and also to receive blessings from their deceased relatives. It is traditionally called the Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Fifteen days after the festival, the ghosts will return to their world and the gates will be closed again.

Chen-ou Liu, Canada
August 2010


Ghost Festival
paper mansion, paper Benz...
going up in smoke
August 2011



. Bon Festival (o-bon) お盆 in Japan .


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Malaysia

Hungry Ghost Festival

Celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th Lunar month. On this day it is believed that the "Gates of Hell" are opened and that the dead return to visit their living relatives. The Chinese feel that they have to satisfy the imprisoned and hungry ghosts in order to get good fortuneand luck in their lives.

Historically, families have offered sacrifices of newly harvested grain to departed ancestors on this day, which also coincides with the Buddhist Ullambana, deliverance, Festival and the Taoist Ghost Festival, called "Chung Yuan" in Taoist terminology. Since each of these traditions in some way honors the spirits of the departed, the seventh lunar month has come to be known as Ghost Month, celebrated as a time when the "Good Brethren", ghosts from the underworld, come back to earth to feast on the victuals offered by the living. Over time the Ullambana Festival and Ghost Festival have melded together to become the present day Chung Yuan Putu or "Mid-origin Passage to Universal Salvation."

The festival is currently celebrated with ceremonies at homes, temples, associations, and guilds. Prayers are offered to the dead and offerings of food such as chicken, vegetables, fruits, bean curd and white rice are placed at street corners and roadsides to appease the spirits.This is believed to prevent the wandering spirits from entering their homes and causing disturbances in their households.

Offerings are also made by burning replica money notes, which are also known as ‘hell money’. Some families also burn paper houses, cars and even paper television or radio sets to give to their dead relatives. The Chinese feel that these offerings reach the ghosts and help them live comfortably in their world.

Copyright © 2002-2005 Capslock Sdn Bhd.
http://www.abcmalaysia.com/tour_malaysia/ghost_festival.htm

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Tibetan Wheel of Life



After the top realm, going in a clockwise order, next is the realm of those who, after death, are still so attached by desire to this world that they are ghosts.

In the Tibetan version, they are shown with very narrow necks and are known as ‘hungry ghosts’ because their condition prevents them from enjoying food or drink.

Take your time to explore this exhaustive site.
Copyright 1998-2006 Khandro.Net
http://www.khandro.net/doctrine_rebirth.htm


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Things found on the way


Daruma and Japanese Ghosts by Gabi Greve


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HAIKU


© PHOTO :　cosumosu52.exblog.jp


六道の辻に立けりかれ尾花
roku doo no tsuji ni tachi keri kare obana

standing at the crossroad
to the Six Realms ...
withered susuki grass

Kobayashi Issa
Tr. Gabi Greve




© Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo

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百方に餓鬼うづくまる除夜の鐘

hyappoo ni gaki uzukumaru joya no kane

temple bells at New Year's Eve -
hungry ghosts are squatting
in all directions
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

Ishida Hakyo, 1913-1969
石田波郷
http://www.isis.ne.jp/mnn/senya/senya1003.html

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六道の辻で夜桜と目が合う
rokudoo no tsuji de yozakura to me ni au

at the crossroad to the six realms
my eyes meet
cherry blossoms at night
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

Copyright (C) Yasunobu Nakamura
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood/3151/haiku.html

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Rotting cadaver
Earth death. Meat for hungry ghosts
Maggots dance with life.

atiguhya padma, London
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2076


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Amitabha Buddha
Reminds me to make offerings
To my hungry ghosts

- Shared by Res John Burman -
Joys of Japan, August 2012



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Related words

***** Ghosts (yookai, bakemono) and haiku

***** World Kigo Database : Saijiki of Buddhist Events


***** World Kigo Database : Bon Festival (o-bon) お盆


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