Japanese Wedding 日本式结婚礼仪

Four types
Shinto style(standard and tradition) 神前式 Christian style 教会式 Buddhist style 佛前式 non-religious style人前式
The Engagement ——“Yui-no”
• Both families meet at a formal dinner on a day that the Japanese almanac（年历） deemed auspicious（吉利的）." • After the dinner exchanged gifts (meant to symbolize happiness and fortune)
Engagement Ceremony Decorations
• • • • These include : crane—a bird that mates for life Tortoise, an animal that lays many eggs. Pine stands for prosperity since it is evergreen; bamboo represents integrity because it grows upright. • Lastly the cherry tree's beautiful flowers—a celebrated plant in Japan—symbolizes lifelong happiness.
Ceremony Locations
The Shinto ceremony is held at a shrine(神殿；神龛). Shinto shrines are places of worship and considered to be the dwellings of the kami, or Shinto gods. The shrine is where people visit to pay their respects to the gods and pray the gift of good fortune. They are, therefore " Logical " places to hold a wedding ceremony.
Guests
• Women who attend a traditional Japanese wedding wear kimonos. • Young women may wear colorful kimonos with long flowing furisode, or butterfly sleeves. • Married women, to distinguish their marital status, will wear a more subdued homongi kimono. • Men traditionally wear western-style suits.
Drinking the wine is a sign that the marriage vows are sealed. Then exchange wedding rings.
At the close of the ceremony, symbolic offerings are given to the kami(日本神道教的神), this offering consists of three small twigs of Sakaki, a sacred tree.
• A “hakama” is a skirt ——fidelity(忠诚). • "Naga-Noshi" is abalone shell ——express the sincere wishes of the gift giver. • “Katsuo-bushi” is dried bonito（鲣鱼） —— express the wish that the couple would have a lasting marriage. • "Konbu," is known for its ability to breed. ——express the wish that the couple have happy and healthy children. • "Sake" casks are exchanged at the engagement dinner. ——symbolise a pledge for obedience and gentleness in marriage.
Wedding Attire
• The bride and groom wear the traditional kimono(和服) for the ceremony and completely change their outfits three or more times. • The bride's traditional wedding costume is called a shiro-muku, a white silk "undergarment" that meaning literally "white pure" • The groom’s traditional wedding costume is called Hakama. Its color is black, gray or brown with a white pinstripe.
From the 14th century on
the “Yome-iri” patrilocal （指婚后居住在男方家里） system The nakodo go-between arranged marriage began to be used to help make socially agreeable matches.
Schedule
• The most popular time of year for Japanese weddings is spring, with June being the first choice. • Select a tomobiki day (the most auspicious day)on which to schedule their nuptials(婚礼). Because they are select dates, must be booked well in advance.
Gifts
• Guests are also expected to Oshugi, a cash gift. The amount depends on their degree of closeness to the couple and the family. • The money is placed into a special envelope, or Shugi-bukuro, and the guest ' s name is written on the front of the envelope.
Japanese Wedding
Historical Marriage Customs
Prior to the era of the shoguns幕府时期 known as “Muko-iri” 入赘（where the groom married into the bride’s family.）
Japanese brides wear an elaborate hairstyle, known as the bunkin-takashimada.
The elaborate style involves pulling all of the hair back into a large, full bun at the crown of the head. Golden accessories adorn the style.
• The bridal couple, dressed in traditional kimonos, is purified, drinks sake, and the groom reads the words of commitment.
The sake is poured into three special cups of different sizes. The ceremony is called "SanSanKudo," which means three sets of three sips equals nine Using the smallest of the cups, the groom takes three sips. Then the bride does likewise.
During the Meiji Era明治时期(1868-1912)
the head of the household, usually the oldest son, held all property and rights over the wife. Adultery（通奸） was a criminal offense if committed by the wife, but not a crime if committed system （指婚后居住在女方家里）the groom would visit the bride nightly at her home. Among the common people, the husband would sometimes offer his labor to the family of the bride for a set amount of time
The bride covers with a white hood-like veil of cloth called a tsunokakushi, meaning demon horns.
Ceremony-Service
• In a traditional wedding, a Shinto priest conducts the ceremony which is attended only by immediate family. The priest reads the wedding contract. • The bride and groom are attended to by Miko maidens, serving sake in red and white dresses.
Most important gifts ：an “obi,” a traditional kimono sash（腰带）. It represented female virtue.
The "Mokuroku" was the list of gifts which would be exchanged:
Reception
• Guests contribute speeches and songs or are invited to participate in games, skits and karaoke. • It is traditional to distribute wedding mementoes called Hikidemono, including dried bonito or sugar. • Other gifts may include beautifully wrapped traditional Japanese candies, or sake to modern novelty items.