spirits of ancestors practice using human bodies in this world . 先祖は現界に住んでいる肉体人を土台として修業するものである。
in countries of the chinese cultural sphere , july 15th of the lunar calendar is ' the ghost festival (中元节 in simplified characters ), ' and as in japan , festivals relating to the spirits of ancestors are held . 中国文化圏では、旧暦7月15日を中元節（簡体字 中元节）と呼び、日本同様、祖霊にちなんだ祭りが催される。
furthermore , discrimination still deeply exists--even nowadays--toward the heretics who believe in the immortality of the spirit , such as in christianity , and who believe in the spirits of ancestors , such as in japanese shinto . また、キリスト教のように霊魂の不滅を信じたり、日本の神道のように祖霊を信ずる異教徒に対する差別が現在でも根深く存している。
if the term of butsudan simply means a miniature temple , it should not be necessary for any temple which has already its own main hall for buddha , but an onaibutsu altar is additionally installed in many temples considering it serves for the spirits of ancestors . 小型の寺院という考え方であれば本堂があるので必要がないはずだが、先祖供養の観点から別途用意されることが多い。
there are two theories to explain the origin of butsudan; one refers to ' jibutsudo ' (small private buildings or rooms used by noble men to enshrine their own buddhist images and for their own personal spiritual edification ) and another to ' tamadana ' (alters dedicated to spirits of ancestors ). 仏壇の起源については「持佛堂（ぢぶつどう）→仏壇説」と「魂棚（たまだな）→仏壇説」の2説ある。
