noun
straw boat for ancestral spirits
A small boat made of straw, used in Obon or similar rituals to send off the spirits of ancestors. Regional and traditional; not an everyday item.
お盆の終わりに精霊舟を川に流す地域もある。
In some regions, straw boats for ancestral spirits are floated down the river at the end of Obon.
Standard kanji spelling; 舟 emphasizes a small boat.
Variant using 船 (general term for ship/boat); also seen.
Refers to the ritual of sending off ancestral spirits, often using boats like 精霊舟.
Compound of 精霊 (spirit of the dead) and 舟/船 (boat). The exact historical origin is uncertain; it is a traditional term associated with Obon customs.