It is Obon お盆 festival in Japan again. Two years ago, I arrived Nagasaki during Obon and learned the Nagasaki style is the Spirit Boat Procession (Shōrō nagashi 精霊流し) influenced by the Chinese residents there. Dr. Yang Kueihsiang told me that it was also called Color Boat Procession 彩舟流し（さいしゅうながし）and can be found in Nagasaki historical records. During the festival, the Rite of Feeding Hungry Ghost would be performed. It is possible that master Yinyuan had participated in these festivals during his stay in Nagasaki because he practiced the Rite of Feeding Hungry Ghosts (Shishi 施食, Shi E'gui 施餓鬼, Fang Yankou 放焰口) in his Obaku monasteries as well. I have a short discussion in my book Leaving for the Rising Sun, page 152.
It is now also part of the popular culture. Sada Masashi's first famous song was written for this festival when he was in Nagasaki.
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