Higan is a deeply contemplative Buddhist observance celebrated in Japan during both the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, aligning the balance of light and dark with the spiritual journey from ignorance to enlightenment. The word Higan means “the other shore,” symbolising the crossing from the world of delusion (this shore) to the realm of awakening (the far shore), and it draws on the Buddhist metaphor of life as a river of suffering that can be crossed through mindfulness, virtue, and wisdom.
Higan lasts for seven days—three days before and after the equinox, with the day of the equinox at its centre. The period’s natural balance between day and night becomes a spiritual symbol of the Middle Way, one of the core teachings of the Buddha, which advocates a path of moderation and harmony between extremes. This celestial balance is echoed in the heart of Higan: the aspiration for inner equilibrium, clarity, and compassionate living.
The observance has both communal and individual dimensions. Many people visit family graves, clean headstones, and offer incense, flowers, and prayers. This is not only an act of filial piety but a meditative reflection on impermanence, continuity, and gratitude. These rituals honour ancestors and deepen awareness of the interconnectedness of life across generations.
Higan is also a time for personal spiritual practice. Buddhist temples hold special services where practitioners reflect on the Six Perfections (Paramitas): generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. These virtues form the bridge to the “other shore,” guiding the practitioner through the challenges of daily life with purpose and presence.
Philosophically, Higan is rooted in the understanding that suffering arises from attachment and illusion, and that freedom is not found in escape but in transformation. The equinox, when the world pauses in balance, becomes a natural mirror for this inner work. It offers a moment to stop, reflect, and ask: What binds me? What can I release? How can I live more skillfully, more compassionately?
The atmosphere of Higan is serene and introspective. It is not a festival of outward celebration but of quiet remembrance and inner cultivation. Yet it is also filled with tenderness and grace—a sacred pause in the year that invites stillness in a world often caught in motion. In many ways, it offers the soul a chance to breathe and reorient itself toward the path of awakening.
Artistically and poetically, Higan has inspired reflections on the seasons, the passage of time, and the poignancy of life’s transience. The equinox light, the falling petals, the fragrance of incense in temple courtyards—all serve as subtle teachings. In these sensory offerings, the sacred reveals itself not in permanence but in presence.
Higan is ultimately a festival of inner crossing, marked by remembrance, renewal, and resolve. It honours those who have gone before and those who walk the path now, linking past and present in the light of timeless truth. Through its gentle rituals and teachings, Higan invites each soul to step more mindfully toward the far shore—where wisdom, compassion, and clarity await.
