Ifays

Ifays the wooden tablets employed by the Japanese, containing inscriptions commemorative of the dead, mentioning the date of his decease, and the name given to him since that event. The ifays are carried in the funeral procession, along with the body, to the grave, and one of them is placed over it, remaining there seven weeks, when it is removed to make way for the gravestone. Another is set up in the best apartment of the house during the period of mourning. Sweetmeats, fruits, and tea are placed before it; and morning, noon, and night food is prepared for it as for a living person. The whole household pray before it morning and evening during seven weeks, and other religious ceremonies are observed.