12 Etiquette & Ceremony for a Traditional Japanese Wedding

The Origin of the Shinto Wedding – A Traditional Japanese Wedding

In Japan, with the marriage of Prince Yoshihito and Princess Kujo Sadako, the Shinto ceremony has become a popular traditional wedding rite. The wedding ceremony took place in the Imperial Palace in the early 1900s. Following that, the Japanese temples in Tokyo began to organize ceremonies along the same lines. 

 

 

 

After being conducted in other places including as Osaka and Kyoto, the wedding ceremony began to gain in popularity. Actually, the wedding ceremony had its beginnings in the early months of 1872. However, it was held without regard to any particular religious affiliation at the time. At the time, the ceremony’s main goal was to safeguard the bride, and nothing else.

 

 

 

 

 

The Japanese Wedding Ceremony is a formalized version of the Western wedding ceremony.
There were only close family and relatives in attendance during the traditional wedding ceremony, which was a tiny occasion in the traditional sense. The wedding reception, on the other hand, is accessible to the whole public. The following are the stages involved in a traditional Japanese wedding.

 

 

 

1. Shinzen kekkon (Japanese for “shinzen kekkon”)

The traditional wedding ceremony was presided over by a priest, and the Shinzen kekkon is the first of these rituals. It was a purifying rite in Shinto that included the exchanging of sake between the bride and groom prior to their wedding ceremony. 

 

 

 

 

 

Food items, as well as the wedding ring, were left at the altar after the ceremony. A table with sake and fruits was set up in the middle of the room, and the couples stood in the center of it. Family members stood behind the table. For the first ceremony, it took between 20 and 30 minutes to complete.

 

 

 

 

2. San san ku do (san san ku do)

Immediately after the conclusion of the cleansing, the priest declared the beginning of the san san ku do, which translates as “thirteen times three, three, nine.” It signified the three vows taken three times, which were represented by three cups, which were poured three times, and drunk after three sips. 

 

 

 

 

The three cups were generally of progressively larger size. The groom was given the first and tiniest cup, which he drank from before presenting it to the bride to drink from. The bride was given the second and middle-sized cup, and subsequently the groom was given the same cup. While the final and greatest pour was made for the groom, the bride was the next to receive it (repeating the first cup).

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. The exchange of vows

Following the drinking ceremony, the vow reading is the following phase in the traditional Japanese wedding. The bride and groom would make their way to the altar. The groom then recited his vows three times in front of the bride, who listened intently.

 

 

 

 

 

The Nakodo (number 4)

Japan has a historical tradition of matchmakers, known as “Nakodo.” The Nakodo is generally the one who arranges the meeting between the couples, after which they finally get married. During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom had the opportunity to express their gratitude to their Nakodo via their vows. However, if there was no Nakodo present, the best man or bridesmaid would be filled by the couple’s closest friend or relative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. The last procedures

A Japanese evergreen plant was placed on top of the altar as a last gesture of appreciation to the spirits who had bestowed their blessings on the couple in the final part of the ritual. The bride and groom would then make their own offerings, as well as a representative from each family on each side of the aisle (usually the fathers). Following then, the wedding ring was given to the couple.

 

 

 

Getting Ready for a Japanese Wedding

The traditional wedding attire in Japan was extremely interesting to see. The majority of the time, the wedding gowns were white, which represented the country’s flag, which is mostly white with a few red stripes across it.

 

 

 

Elegant silk or another smooth material was used to create the bride’s gown. The wearing of an evening gown at a wedding ceremony was extremely prevalent in Japan, which may come as a surprise to you given the country’s traditional dress code.
The bride wore a headpiece, a white silk hood over her bun in her hair, which she had made herself. The silk headpiece was known as wataboshi, and it was one of the most ancient traditions in Japanese bridal culture. According to legend, the hood symbolizes humility and modesty.

 

 

In addition to the silk hood, the bride donned a paper cap known as tsuno-kakushi, which translates as “horn hider.” The purpose of this headgear was to hide either the jealous demons or the “horn” itself.

 

 

The groom and his groomsmen were normally dressed in black, and they might either wear suits or kimonos (as it was a traditional ceremony, the suits were rarely worn).

Additional one-of-a-kind information about Izanagi and Izanami were the names of the Japanese marriage gods Izanagi and Izanami. They were reportedly summoned during the wedding prayers, according to legend. The gods were enlisted to help the couple achieve a harmonic balance in their union. 

 

 

 

Some of the prayers for the newlyweds included desires for them to have a respected house and to have children, as well as for them to be happy together.
A ritual known as Yuino was followed by couples before they were married. It was a symbolic ritual in which the two families shared symbolic presents amongst themselves and with one other. Most common presents were a konbu (seaweed) that symbolized “child-bearing lady,” a long strand of hemp that represented the couple’s want to grow old together, and a folding fan that spread, which represented a considerable amount of riches.

 

 

 

The guests attending the wedding ceremony are expected to contribute gift money (known as the goshugi) as well as blessings and presents for the couple. The amount of money was determined by the person who made the gift. It was presented in an unique envelope with gold and silver threads known as the shugi-bukuro, which means “gold and silver strings.” All of the other presents, on the other hand, should be wrapped in decorative rice paper.
They should also contribute to the present money, and they should provide double the amount that was contributed by friends and other visitors.

 

 

 

Traditional Japanese weddings were performed at Shinto shrines, as indicated by the name of the ceremony. The temples were distinguished by several prominent religious features that added to their allure. The water pavilions, stone dogs, and great red gates, which represent the separation between the bodily and spiritual realms, were the most often seen symbols.

 

 

 

The wedding speeches were very essential in the traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. Families, friends, and coworkers who were in attendance at the wedding would stand in a line and take turns giving their blessing and well wishes to the newlyweds. The topic of the speeches might vary, but it is generally a moralistic narrative about marriage or a passionate message from the family and friends who are giving them.

 

 

 

The practice of exchanging presents was also prevalent during Japanese weddings. The parents of the bride and groom would be inundated with gifts from their children. Everyone else was dependent on those who had already committed themselves to each other in marriage.
It was intended that the presents for parents would help to make the wedding more private and unique for the whole family, as the most frequent gifts were a toast for them or a bouquet of flowers, as well as a personal letter from the children expressing their love and gratitude.

 

 

 

 

Not only would the parents and the newlyweds go away with gifts, but so would the people who attended the wedding. Every single attendee at the wedding received a unique gift from the bride and groom, which was delivered by the couple. It might be a lace purse, candies, or any other kind of item.

 

 

 

Following World War II, traditional weddings in Japan underwent significant transformation. Because it is no longer recognized as a state religion, the number of Shinto weddings is steadily declining. As a result of the huge migration into cities and smaller residences, it has become increasingly difficult to hold such events in contemporary times.
Traditional wedding ceremonies continue to be popular among certain Japanese even in the modern times. 

 

 

 

However, instead of taking place within a temple, the event was transferred to a big site such as a hall or hotel that had been prepared to seem like a Shinto shrine.
In Japan, traditional weddings have transitioned from Shinto ceremonies to Christian wedding ceremonies since the 1990s, regardless of the beliefs and religious affiliations of the couple.
Marriage in Japan has traditionally been divided into two categories depending on how a person meets his or her spouse. The first was omiai, which was a wedding that arose from a prearranged introduction or matching service.

 

 

 

 

 

 The second kind of wedding was ren’ai, which is when the bride and groom locate one other and decide to be married on their own.
These are some of the most interesting facts regarding a traditional Japanese wedding. Wedding traditions were often derived from the culture and religion of the community in which they were observed. 

 

 

 

The traditional wedding ceremony itself typically reflects the beliefs of those who participate in it, with the promise of a bright future and a married life filled with prosperity and blessings in the years to follow.