) A
butsudan usually contains an array of subsidiary religious accessories, called
butsugu, such as candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and platforms for placing offerings such as fruit, tea or rice. Most Buddhist schools, excluding
Jōdo Shinshū, place
ihai memorial tablets,
kakochō death registers for deceased relatives, or urns containing the cremated remains of relatives, either within or near the
butsudan. Traditional Japanese beliefs hold the Butsudan to be a house of the
Buddha,
Bodhisattva, as well as of deceased relatives enshrined within it. In some Buddhist schools, when a Butsudan is replaced or repaired by the family, a re-enshrinement ceremony follows. The arrangement and types of items in and around the
butsudan can vary depending on the school. A
butsudan usually houses a
honzon, a statue or painting of the Buddha or a Buddhist deity that reflects the school which the family follows, though embroidered scrolls containing a
mantric or
sutric text are also common. Other auxiliary items often found near the
butsudan include tea, water and food (usually fruits or rice), an incense burner, candles, flowers, hanging lamps and evergreens. A
rin often accompanies the
butsudan, which can be rung during liturgy or recitation of prayers. Members of some Buddhist sects place
ihai or tablets engraved with the names of deceased family members within or next to the
butsudan. Other Buddhist sects, such as
Jōdo Shinshū, usually do not have these, but may instead have pictures of the deceased placed near the
butsudan. The
butsudan is typically placed upon a larger cabinet in which are kept important family documents and certificates. ==Social-spiritual relations==