YUREI- The Japanese Ghost

Even though Japan is a country famous for its modern and high technology, their belief in things that smells mystical is still high. they still believe in haunting spirits, ghosts, or dedemites. ghosts in Japan are called "Yurei". the origin of the word "Yu" is dim / imperfect, and "Rei" which means soul. so, Yurei is an imperfect spirit or can also be interpreted as a ghost who wanders. Japanese people believe that in the summer, or around August, is the lunar spirit month. This is because that month coincides with the celebration of Obon Day, or the return of their ancestral spirits to the world. It was at that time that the Japanese people cleared their house, and went to the temple, to welcome the spirits of the ancestors and take them back to their natural world. In addition, haunting spirits that die unnaturally will also appear on Obon Day. 

according to Japanese belief, after they die a spirit called Reikon will come out of the body and go to the purification of spirits, waiting to be properly buried. if all the processes at the spirit washer were smooth, the spirit would come every year to the Obon Festival and protect their immediate family

because Yurei has many kinds, they are grouped according to how they die:

-Onryo: spirits who have a grudge against those who have hurt them.

-Ubume: the spirit of a mother who died after giving birth to her child. they are wandering because they are not willing to leave their children in the world.

-Funayurei: spirits who died at sea

and many more.

Questions:
1. What’s the meaning of the name ‘Yu’?
2. What happened in August according to Japanese people?
3. What is Reikon?
4. How did Ubume die?
5. What do Japanese people usually do during the Obon day?