The butsudan, or Buddhist home altar, is the spiritual center of the Buddhist household, the place where the sacred values of enlightenment, impermanence, and gratitude are encapsulated, where space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance has been hallowed. As such, the butsudan is intimately linked to one’s own life. Flanked by ihai (memorial tablets) or photos of deceased family members, the butsudan is a site for rituals such as offering the first rice of the day or sharing an edible gift from a neighbor. These small household rites constitute the spiritual rhythm and flow of life. Sutra and Bible: Faith and the Japanese American World War II Incarceration is now on view! Come see it today #SutraAndBible And you can continue reading more from this essay titled "Butsudan: Recreating Home and Family Practice in the Barracks" by Jane Naomi Iwamura in the exhibition companion book. Available to order at the link in bio — Butsudan made from scrap wood found in a mess hall in Gila River concentration camp, Arizona. Japanese American National Museum, 88.20.4