日本における葬儀形式の変容―新型コロナウイルスの影響を視座に―

Abstract

2019年底爆發的新型冠狀病毒肺炎（COVID-19）導致了許多生命的殞落。為了防止感染擴散，日本厚生勞動省最初規定須於24小時以內火化遺體，並呼籲民眾應避免「三密」。之後放寬規定，只要根據感染防範對策，並對故人採取適當措施便得舉行葬禮，然而新冠肺炎的影響依舊持續存在。2011年發生的東日本大地震與新冠肺炎一樣導致大量死亡，發生超過火葬處理所能負荷之事態，並且帶來了遺體處理上的各種問題。此類自然災害所造成的大量死亡與日本社會所存在的各種變動，導致葬禮的形式正逐漸面臨種種變化。尤其，新冠肺炎的發生更是為日本的殯葬帶來了劃時代的改變。 本論文旨在探討新冠肺炎對以往葬禮的影響，以及民眾的喪葬習俗是否發生變化，還有葬禮或宗教意識上是否也產生影響？ 本論文的結構如下：第一章爬疏先行研究，對古代到現代的喪葬禮儀之變遷進行考察，揭示其歷史背景。第二章，涵蓋日本社會中的各種問題所產生之影響，探討近年新冠肺炎對喪葬帶來的進一步變化。第三章則以台灣的日本佛教團體「創價學會」為對象所進行的問卷調查結果為基礎，深入了解新冠肺炎影響下的佛教葬禮之實際情況。並且，試圖探討葬禮形式於新冠肺炎走向緩解的現狀以及未來可預見的發展趨勢。

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 resulted in the loss of many lives. In order to prevent the spread of infection, Japan''s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare deemed it necessary to cremate the body within 24 hours, and urged the public to avoid the “three Cs.” Subsequently, the regulations were relaxed, and funerals were held as long as appropriate measures were taken based on infection prevention strategies. However, the impact of COVID-19 still persists. Similar to the situation during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which also caused a large number of deaths, exceeded the capacity of cremation, and caused various problems in the disposal of remains. With the mass casualties caused by such natural disasters and various societal changes in Japan, the form of funerals is gradually transforming. Particularly, the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought epoch-making changes to Japanese funerals. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of COVID-19 on traditional funerals, examining whether people’s funeral customs have changed, and whether there is also an accompanying impact on funerals or religious consciousness. This dissertation is divided into three parts. The first Chapter investigates funeral rituals from ancient times to the present, based on previous research, and elucidate the historical background. In Chapter 2, we will look at further changes that COVID-19 has brought to funerals in recent years, including the impact generated by various issues within Japanese society. Chapter 3 is based on the results of a questionnaire survey conducted by the Japanese Buddhist organization “Soka Gakkai” in Taiwan, delving into the actual circumstances of Buddhist funerals under the influence of COVID-19. In addition, this dissertation attempts to capture the current status and foreseeable trend of funeral forms as the pandemic gradually eases.