The Evolution of TwoーTomb System and the Kinship ーーThe Case of Sugashima, Mie Prefecture ーー

Sugashima is one of the areas where ryobosei (two - tomb system) is still observedin which for each individual dead a burial ground and a separate memorial site（mairi - baka） are maintained for various ceremonial purposes. The aim of The research was (1) to findout the significance and the function of the two memorial sitesboth of which are called haka（或baka）；(2) to investigate the relationship between such mortuary system and the kinship system. some ofthe findings are as follows:1) the spatial distribution of household lots in both memorial sites和kinship system coincide in lack of clear patrilineal descent principle.2) The community'sreligious functions are carried out by several groups and individuals who are recruited mainly onprinciples of age and sex.3) At the mid-summer bon festival for the dead, the household，bilateral kindred, and the village as a whole participate in different ways on different level，making up as a whole a complexmonth - long memorial services for the dead. the occasion demonstrates symbolically the unity of tnis4) Through the detailed information we have gathered regarding the two memorialsites and the two village temples (one is now extant), as well as kinship and ceremonial details，我们现在可以reexamine the nature of Japanese 'ancestors' and ‘ancestor worship’。

Sugashima is one of the areas where ryobosei (twoーtomb system) is still observed, in which for each individual dead a burial ground (umebaka) and a separate memorial site (mairiーbaka) are maintained for various ceremonial purposes. The aim of the research was (1) to find out the significance and the function of the two memorial sites, both of which are called haka (or ーbaka) ; and (2) to investigate the relationship between such mortuary system and the kinship system.Some of the findings are as follows :1) The spatial distribution of household lots in both memorial sites and kinship system coincide in lack of clear patrilineal descent principle.2) The community's religious functions are carried out by several groups and individuals who are recruited mainly on principles of age and sex.3) At the mid-summer bon festival for the dead, the household, bilateral kindred, and the village as a whole participate in different ways on different levels, making up as a whole a complex, monthーlong memorial services for the dead. The occasion demonstrates symbolically the unity of tnis fishing village.4) Through the detailed information we have gathered regarding the two memorial sites and the two village temples (one is now extant), as well as kinship and ceremonial details, we may now reexamine the nature of Japanese 'ancestors' and 'ancestor worship'.