Nabożeństwo za zmarłych w buddyzmie chińskim
Rituals for the Dead in Chinese Buddhism

Summary/Abstract: The All Souls’ Day (Yü-lan-p’en) in Chinese Buddhism dates back to the eighth century and is celebrated till modern times. The present author introduces the origin of this feast, its doctrinal justification and its relationship to the Chinese ancestors’ worship. Then he shows the course of the holidays based on a publication by J.J.M. de Groot from the late nineteenth century. In the last part of the article, the author discusses the meaning of the holidays, the unique ability to adapt Buddhism and universality of expressing the honour to the dead. Although Christianity possesses a doctrine of last things and its influence in the eighth century in China was significant, however, Buddhism was capable to better enter the traditional ancestors’ worship, and the worship of the dead gained popularity that is enjoyed till today.

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