History

The origin of Obon is not exactly known, however it is said that it has existed in India when Sakyamuni was based in Urabon-kyo(Ashikaga, 218) while the religious customs were brought from China. It is said that when the tradition was brought to China, certain parts of the customs were changed or lost and this is how it has been passed on to Japan. The difference between how China and Japan celebrate Obon however is that while in Japan, it is only for three days, in China it is said that the dead is back for thirty days. It is not known when the first bon festival was performed. Some say it was it was first performed in the fifth year of Tempyo(733), others say on the the "fifteenth day of the seventh moon, in the third year (657)"(Ashikaga, 221)