In the Buddhist world

First, there is no such thing as changing the destination depending on the number of monks working at the funeral.

However, depending on the denomination, the role at the funeral is determined, and I think there is a minimum number of people. That's a rule when performing a ceremony because the method for the prescribed ceremony is decided, so the minimum number of people is also decided.

In our Jodo Shinshu, the most common roles are those of mentors (the main executor of ceremonies, the chief priest of Yorimi-ji Temple for those who have disappeared) and people who knock a bell (not something you can't do alone). After that, no matter how many people are there, they just sit (and sometimes stand) and work.

If that's the case, it means we don't need a lot of people. So I'll take my funeral at the temple as an example. First, there is a Zen temple in the same village, so the chief priest there comes. This is because as a resident of the same village, they had a relationship with the deceased during their lifetime and were close. Then, for the same reason, the chief priest of a nearby temple, a woman who was married from another village, also came from the chief priest of her birthplace and other close relatives, Yorimi-ji Temple. Even if people who died were not able to go to quite a few places just because of this, they invited many monks in this way to attend a farewell ceremony with all the shabas in a sense.

There is certainly an aspect of this that is useless. So even in the rural area where I live, there is a clear downward trend in the number of monks. However, I believe that saying goodbye after being seen off by many people, such as many monks, villagers, acquaintances, relatives, etc., has a precious meaning that cannot just be called useless.

Nice to meet you, Princess Yumiko.
This is Nakamura Taishaku from Tokushima Prefecture, the temple of Dharma and ceiling paintings.

I wonder if Princess Yumiko is easy to attain Buddhism due to the number of monks. Also, you're wondering why so many monks are needed.

I see that the deceased contributed to the community and was loved by everyone. When such a person dies, I wonder if not only the bereaved families but also the people who have taken care of them can do anything even a little bit. As one of them, I sometimes want to have a grand funeral.

A grand funeral is one where a wide altar (usually about 120 cm, depending on the region, is about 120 cm, so it is twice as large) is prepared, lots of fresh flowers are offered, and many people can attend the funeral and see it off. The number of attendees is expected to be around 200 to 300 people. If that were the case, it wouldn't look good if there were only one monk. You will be asked to have 3 to 4 monks come and ask them to recite the sutras.

Think of everything as an expression of a desire to greet the deceased. I want the ceremony to be such that both those who prepared for the funeral and those who attended can say, “That was a good funeral.”

When many monks come to the funeral, you have to wrap a lot of offerings.
Taxes and alms are often described as being taken, but the question is whether there is any point in having many monks read the sutras in the first place.
Now let's think about that for a moment.
The teachings preached by Shakyamuni in India came to Japan as Buddhism, but there was an idea called Fukuda (fukuden) in India. The idea is to give alms to a clergyman and then gain blessings.
Giving also means “giving.”
If you have many monks come and give lots of offerings, you will gain a lot of blessings.
It is the act of delivering this blessing to those who have died.
When I think about it this way, I also feel that it's not that useless or meaningless, but I think it makes sense if you just want those who have died to have peace of mind even a little, or to quickly attain enlightenment under the Buddha.
However, calling a lot to show off your financial strength goes beyond the horse.

My name is Yoshida Toshihide and I am the chief priest of a Soto sect temple. I will explain it in the case of a funeral for a devotee of the Soto sect.

At funerals for followers of the Soto sect, there are two important points: ① admonition ② guidance.

The precepts of ① mean that the mentor (chief priest of the family temple) imparts the Buddhist precepts to the deceased, uses the deceased as a Buddha disciple, gives a commandment name as proof that they have become a Buddha disciple, and hands them a bloodline (certificate of being a disciple of the Buddha).

Guidance in ② is a slightly difficult word, but it is said that it is an abbreviation for induction teaching. It means inviting the deceased to follow the path of becoming a Buddha and guiding them to walk the path of Buddhism correctly. A ceremony is performed to hold up a torch (commonly called a “torch”) to light a coffin and cremate them, summing up the life of the deceased and adding words of hanamuke (hanamuke), and they exclaim as if they were changing from a world of confusion to a world of enlightenment.

I'm sorry that the explanation of technical terms is a bit difficult, but ①② is the basic part of a funeral. If you have one mentor, it's possible to do it.

So is it useless to call 2 people 3 people and a monk?

No, it's definitely not a waste. That's not necessarily the case. When performing various ceremonies, starting with funerals, they are performed using various Buddhist instruments such as bells, drums, harps (bells), and wooden fish (wooden fish). If there are several monks, the funeral can proceed more smoothly by using the necessary Buddhist altar fittings according to conventions, and a more solemn funeral can be held. It's a problem if you only value form, but it's also important to adjust the shape. In the Soto sect, they say “manners of honor, manners are the purpose,” and it is only when the shape is prepared that the heart accompanies the heart, and memorial services for the Buddha and individuals begin by first preparing the shape, and sincerity is also conveyed through that. There is such a way of thinking.

Even if many flower offerings are prepared, expensive incense is burned, and sutras are sung by monks (many monks) for the sake of good looks and public health, it cannot be said that there is merit. When it comes to funerals, I think it's important to fulfill your duties as a bereaved family with all your heart for the deceased within the framework of expenses that can be spent on funerals.

Those who had a lot of monks were very pompous and had a high level of satisfaction.
That's all.
If one person is better, I think that's fine.
People who want to invite lots of monks to have a lavish funeral should do so, and those who don't want to do so should not.

Speaking from the monk's side, it is very helpful in the management of the temple to be invited a lot.
In fact, small temples have been destroyed due to an increase in the number of funerals with one monk.
There are also many temples that have managed to maintain by being invited to funerals at other temples.