Asia
In China, the worship of ancestors was and still is extremely ancient and emphasized continuity of familial lines. Respect for their elders was an act of filial piety taught by Confucius. The family was viewed as a closely united group of living and dead relatives rather than a group of people that live together. The ways to earn respect were held in the families home, and in graveyards, and sometimes at temples. Shrines devoted to ancestors contained tablets bearing the names of recent ancestors and especially notable forebears were maintained in the homes.Temple rites were also observed, funerals and commemorative ceremonies were very detailed, and pilgrimage to graves was custom.
The background of early Japanese ancestral worship very uncertain. They adapted many of their customs from the Chinese. Before the diffusion of Buddhism from China to Japan, ancestor worship might have taken place in the Shinto religion. Confucianism never became an organized religion in Japan but filial piety involving quasi-religious Confucian ideals was used and became very important. Until recently, Shinto rites of passage at death were conducted at the family’s home.
http://web.mesacc.edu/dept/d10/asb/religion/ancestor.asia.html
The background of early Japanese ancestral worship very uncertain. They adapted many of their customs from the Chinese. Before the diffusion of Buddhism from China to Japan, ancestor worship might have taken place in the Shinto religion. Confucianism never became an organized religion in Japan but filial piety involving quasi-religious Confucian ideals was used and became very important. Until recently, Shinto rites of passage at death were conducted at the family’s home.
http://web.mesacc.edu/dept/d10/asb/religion/ancestor.asia.html
Middle East and Europe
Various forms of ancestor worship existed among the classical civilizations. Worship of the dead in the Mediterranean later influenced religions in Europe and the Middle East. Ritual attention was focused on by the political leaders and head of the households. In Rome, ancestor worship was an activity that the whole family participated in. The Spirits were believed to have an influence on mortal life. Sacrifice was conducted by the Vikings, Celts, Teutons, and Slavic civilizations of northern and eastern Europe.
http://cyberspacei.com/jesusi/inlight/religion/belief/ancestor.htm
http://web.mesacc.edu/dept/d10/asb/religion/smoke.jpg
http://cyberspacei.com/jesusi/inlight/religion/belief/ancestor.htm
http://web.mesacc.edu/dept/d10/asb/religion/smoke.jpg
Mesoamerica
The Maya, Mixtec, Aztec, and Zapotec religions all had a way of vital force that separated the nonliving and the living. For each of the religions in Mesoamerica, sacrifice was one of the most used concepts to help keep the “gods” or cosmos in balance. Each was also animists. The Aztec people believed in the “tona” which is translated into vital energy. The Maya and Zapotecs expressed their form ancestor worship through wind and life; the Maya called it “ik” and the Zapotec called it “pee”. “yni” or “ini” was used be the Mixtec which stood for spirit, heat, or heat.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/humanorigins/religion.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/templomayorart.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/humanorigins/religion.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/templomayorart.jpg