Death and Bereavement

Abstract

Japanese Buddhism evolved from the combining of a) Chinese Buddhism, with its emphasis on filial piety and ancestor veneration, b) Korean Buddhism, with its shamanistic folk religion, and c) Japan's folk religion. It is most often observed today as the protracted mortuary rituals commonly practiced throughout the country. That they may be observed in traditional as well as Christian settings suggests that their influence in society is pervasive. Research indicates that they facilitate the favorable adjustment to loss through death. The idea that they may function as bereavement was addressed in "Death and Bereavement : The Japanese Model," a presentation given at the 2nd Conference on Spiritual/Bereavement/Psychosocial Aspects of Hospice Care, August 19-22, 1998, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was suggested that the gathering of this kind of information must be a priority for any hospice care provider seeking to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population.