Roots of ancestor worship in East and Southeast Asia sink deep into early agrarian societies, where Neolithic communities in the Yellow River basin, Korean peninsula, Red River delta and inland Thailand began honoring the spirits of the departed to secure good harvests and family protection. Over time, each region put its own spin on that age-old tradition.

In China, inscriptions from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) reveal elaborate sacrificial rites. Confucianism later wove filial piety into a moral framework, making ancestor tables and springtime Qingming tomb‐sweeping household staples. Fast-forward to today: livestreamed tomb‐tending on WeChat reflects how millennials keep rituals alive in the digital age.

Japan’s indigenous Shintō offered kamidana (household shrines) to honor ancestral kami. With Buddhism’s arrival in the 6ᵗʰ century, Shinbutsu shūgō fused local gods, Buddhist bodhisattvas and ancestral spirits. The Obon festival—even as glitzy lantern displays fill Kyoto’s canals—remains the season when families “light up” ancestral paths back home.

Korea embraced Confucian-inspired charye ceremonies during the Joseon era (1392–1910), marked by New Year’s rituals and harvest festivals. Modern Seoulites might stream Charye via Zoom if loved ones are scattered abroad, proving that respect for ancestors never misses a beat—even across continents.

Vietnam’s Đông Sơn culture (c. 1000 BCE) left bronze drums believed to summon ancestors’ blessings. That reverence still takes center stage at Tết, when ancestral altars are dressed in kumquat branches and bánh chưng. Overseas communities keep the tradition “fresh as daisies,” blending it with contemporary Caodai or Buddhist elements.

Thailand’s ancestor veneration sprung from pre-Brahmanic animism, later mingling with Theravada Buddhism. Spirit houses dot street corners, inviting protective spirits into daily life. Urban Thai families today may pepper incense before sleek glass altars, proof that tradition adapts without losing its heartbeat.

Across these cultures, ancestor worship has stuck to its roots while branching out—an enduring testament to how the living keep memories evergreen.