The Far Shore, Reached by Balance

Higan takes its name from a word meaning the far shore, the state of enlightenment beyond the river of birth and death that Buddhist teaching holds as the goal of practice, and the observance is deliberately timed to the two moments of the year when day and night stand in balance. The spring and autumn equinoxes are chosen specifically because the sun at those times sets due west, the direction in which the Pure Land of Amida Buddha is traditionally located in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, so the astronomical balance of the day is read as a fitting moment to contemplate the crossing between this world and the far shore. Each observance runs for the seven days centered on the equinox itself, giving two annual weeks, rather than a single day, given over to grave visits, temple attendance and reflection. Both the spring and autumn equinox days are also official public holidays on the Japanese national calendar, Shunbun no Hi and Shubun no Hi, which gives Higan an unusual status shared by very few religious observances anywhere of being simultaneously a specifically Buddhist practice and a secular, state recognized day off work for the entire population regardless of religious affiliation.