Japanese Equinox Traditions: Discovering Higan Customs and Their Cultural Meanings

Twice a year, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, Japan observes a unique cultural tradition called Higan. Unlike many Buddhist observances found across Asia, Higan represents a distinctly Japanese blend of Buddhist philosophy and indigenous ancestor veneration. This week-long period offers families an opportunity to honor their ancestors while reflecting on Buddhist teachings about enlightenment and mindful living.

During Higan, Japanese families visit ancestral graves, clean Buddhist altars, and prepare special seasonal sweets. The practice connects generations through shared rituals and provides a moment of pause in modern busy lives to remember those who came before us.

What is Higan? Understanding Japan’s Equinox Week

The Two Higan Seasons: Spring and Autumn

Higan occurs twice annually, centered around the spring equinox (Shunbun no Hi, around March 20-21) and the autumn equinox (Shubun no Hi, around September 22-23). Each Higan period spans seven days: three days before the equinox, the equinox day itself (called “Chunichi” or middle day), and three days after.

The word “Higan” derives from the Sanskrit term “paramita,” which translates to “reaching the other shore” or “to彼岸” in Japanese. In Buddhist philosophy, this refers to crossing from the shore of suffering and delusion (shigan – this shore) to the shore of enlightenment and nirvana (higan – the other shore).

The Buddhist Connection to Higan

The equinoxes hold special significance in Japanese Buddhism. On these days, the sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west. Since Buddhist tradition places the Pure Land (Jodo) in the west, the equinox represents a time when the barrier between our world and the realm of enlightenment becomes thinnest.

This astronomical alignment creates what believers consider an ideal moment for spiritual connection with ancestors and contemplation of Buddhist teachings. The equal length of day and night also symbolizes the Buddhist concept of “middle way” – balance and moderation in all things.

The Seven Days of Higan and Their Significance

Chunichi: The Middle Day

The seven-day Higan period begins with “彼岸入り” (Higan-iri, entering Higan) and concludes with “彼岸明け” (Higan-ake, Higan’s end). The equinox itself, called Chunichi, serves as the focal point for ancestral remembrance.

According to traditional Buddhist interpretation, the six days surrounding Chunichi correspond to practicing the Six Paramitas (Rokuharamitsu) – six virtuous practices leading to enlightenment:

1. Generosity (Fuse) – Giving without expecting return
2. Morality (Jikai) – Following ethical precepts
3. Patience (Ninniku) – Enduring difficulties with grace
4. Diligence (Shojin) – Continuous effort toward improvement
5. Meditation (Zenjo) – Cultivating mental clarity
6. Wisdom (Chie) – Understanding the true nature of reality

The middle day focuses on honoring ancestors, while the surrounding days encourage personal spiritual development through these six practices.

Traditional Higan Customs and Practices

Visiting Family Graves (Ohaka Mairi)

The most prominent Higan custom involves visiting family graves. Families gather to clean tombstones, replace old flowers with fresh ones, offer incense, and spend quiet moments remembering deceased relatives.

During grave visits, families typically:

• Thoroughly clean the gravestone and surrounding area
• Fill flower holders with fresh seasonal blooms
• Offer water and favorite foods of the deceased
• Light incense and bow in prayer
• Spend time in reflection and family connection

Many temples also hold special services called “Higan-e,” where monks perform memorial services for all temple members’ ancestors collectively.

Cleaning Buddhist Altars

Home Buddhist altars (butsudan) receive special attention during Higan. Families thoroughly clean these sacred spaces, polish the altar fittings, and arrange fresh offerings including flowers, fruits, and the seasonal sweets associated with Higan.

Offering Incense and Prayers

Lighting incense holds deep symbolic meaning during Higan. The rising smoke represents prayers ascending to ancestors, while the fragrance purifies the space. Family members take turns offering incense at graves and home altars, creating a shared ritual that strengthens family bonds across generations.

Higan Foods: Ohagi and Botamochi

The Fascinating Name Origins

One of Higan’s most beloved traditions involves special rice cakes covered in sweet bean paste. These confections bear different names depending on the season: “botamochi” in spring and “ohagi” in autumn. Despite the different names, they’re essentially the same sweet.

The naming derives from seasonal flowers:

• Botamochi (牡丹餅) – Named after the peony flower (botan) that blooms in spring
• Ohagi (お萩) – Named after the bush clover flower (hagi) that blooms in autumn

This poetic naming convention reflects the Japanese appreciation for seasonal awareness and the transient beauty of nature.

Why the Same Food Has Different Names

Beyond the floral names, traditional recipes show subtle differences based on the harvest cycle of azuki beans:

Autumn (Ohagi): Made with freshly harvested azuki beans in fall. The beans’ skins are still soft and flavorful, so they’re used whole to create chunky “tsubuan” (coarse sweet bean paste). The shape often resembles the small, delicate hagi flowers – typically oval or oblong.

Spring (Botamochi): Made with beans stored through winter. By spring, the bean skins have hardened, so they’re removed to create smooth “koshian” (refined sweet bean paste). The shape mimics the large, round peony blooms – often bigger and more rounded than their autumn counterpart.

Modern refrigeration means many confectioners no longer strictly follow these distinctions, but traditional shops and home cooks still honor these seasonal differences.

Other Traditional Higan Foods

While ohagi and botamochi dominate Higan food traditions, families also prepare:

• Inari-zushi (sushi rice in fried tofu pockets)
• Seasonal vegetables as offerings
• Fresh fruits from the current harvest
• Red rice (sekihan) for celebrations

The red color of azuki beans carries special significance. Japanese culture has long associated red with the power to ward off evil spirits, making these treats both delicious and spiritually protective offerings for ancestors.

Flowers of Higan

Flowers for Grave Offerings

Selecting appropriate flowers for Higan grave offerings follows certain customs. The most commonly chosen flowers include:

Recommended flowers:

• Chrysanthemums (kiku) – Symbol of longevity and nobility, available year-round
• Carnations (white) – Representing respect and pure love
• Statice – Long-lasting with gentle colors
• Kikyo (balloon flowers) – Traditional autumn blooms

Flowers to avoid:

• Flowers with strong fragrances that overwhelm incense
• Thorny flowers like roses (unless thorns are removed)
• Poisonous plants
• Climbing vines that might entangle graves

Flowers are typically arranged in pairs (one for each side of the grave) with odd-numbered stems. The blooms should face outward toward visitors rather than toward the gravestone, symbolically offering beauty to both the deceased and the living.

Higan in Modern Japan

Contemporary Japan continues observing Higan, though practices have evolved with modern lifestyles. While Higan week includes a national holiday (the equinox day), many Japanese families struggle to visit distant family graves during the short period.

Modern adaptations include:

• Flower delivery services to graves for those who cannot visit in person
• Virtual grave visits through video calls with family members who can attend
• Temple services that allow collective memorial prayers for multiple families
• Premade ohagi from convenience stores and supermarkets for busy families

Despite these changes, Higan remains deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Department stores prominently display ohagi, florists prepare special grave bouquets, and temples see increased attendance. The practice of pausing to remember ancestors and contemplate life’s impermanence resonates across generations.

The saying “Atsusa samusa mo higan made” (Heat and cold last only until Higan) captures how these observances mark seasonal transitions. After autumn Higan, summer’s lingering heat finally breaks. After spring Higan, winter’s chill truly ends. This connection between ancestral remembrance and natural cycles reinforces Higan’s role in Japanese cultural consciousness.

Conclusion

Japanese Higan traditions offer a profound example of how Buddhist philosophy adapted to Japanese culture, creating unique practices found nowhere else in the Buddhist world. The weeklong observance combines ancestor veneration, spiritual self-reflection, seasonal awareness, and family connection into meaningful rituals that continue to resonate in modern life.

Whether through the simple act of cleaning a gravestone, the contemplative practice of the Six Paramitas, or the shared enjoyment of seasonal ohagi with family, Higan provides a structured time for remembering the past while mindfully engaging with the present. These traditions remind us that honoring those who came before enriches our own lives and strengthens the bonds we share with both the living and the deceased.

For visitors to Japan during the equinoxes, witnessing or respectfully observing Higan customs offers insight into the Japanese approach to death, family, and the cycles of nature – a worldview that finds beauty and meaning in transience while maintaining deep reverence for continuity across generations.