"A shoryobune is a traditional, boat-shaped “lantern” made of straw, wood and paper. They are usually set ablaze, which is why they are thought of as lanterns, although they are often festooned with hanging paper lanterns as well. Shoryobune means boat for the spirits of the deceased. In George Morikami’s hometown of Miyazu, shoryobune are festooned with decorations of colorful paper bunting in addition to paper lanterns. The boats usually have a sail with an inscription down the middle reading, “Gokuraku-Maru”. Gokuraku refers to the paradise that is the otherworld, while maru is a common suffix for the names of ships in Japan. Families who have experienced deaths in the past year may float these elaborately decorated boats to transport their recently deceased to the other side for the first time. At Lantern Festivla: In the Spirit of Obon, our shoryoubune is filled with tanzaku slips from our guests. These slips are inscribed with messages, and become part of the guiding light of the shoryobune. "
I can only imagine how emotional participating in this ritual can be! I remember a movie, but right now I can;t recall which one, where there hero or heroine dies at the end and the native people build a boat which carries the body. They set it afloat. After it is a little ways out in the water, archers shoot flaming arrows at the boat to start the funeral pyre. The scene was well done and very emotional.
