The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-14
MiRRT4GB IN JAPAN
Frofess'orni Match-Mnker.--R eth-.thn,s In
Inf"ncy-Other Peculiar Custc.,s.
byr ne Jsp,"as n@..

- f,or Ae J,p,-ss. Tine.
Inc lower orders OF tho Japanese cmpIov
eome married couple 10 make matches for their
sons. aud theso agents are called nakodos or go
nrtwecns. j thr9thn sometimes takes place in
tne infancy or childhood OF parties but ID Ia very
often deferred till they ara old enough To- wish
hH,HHe h some VOICE ~ tho, matter themselves,
WILL ,n.,' however rs denied them II they have
parenh living. When. by reason OF the death
ol MS parents. young man IL loft free TO man
hEr NE matter in his own behalf he choos' u
Huuhlnianccs. and through them makes in b
gulrlss Tor 2 suitable helpmaie. and when thoy
report the discovery Of one. he sonda them To
solicit her hand OF her parents.
, II VIZ proposal sults nor parents the bargain
IL made and by ther connivance meeting Is
arranged to take place bptwecn the young poo
pie al some tea house., unless they already know
'hrh other by sight, where the betrothud Gun
o on. cnsl sly Chances ut each other but are per
I'D ucn 70 iold no conversation, rs thnt in tho
present stage OF affairs would be a breach Of
=. In arranging matters sor the wedding. fixing
ne day for Il. ~, other .go-hctwccns are ON
ployed. whose Office expires only when the two
are made one, First. Tho young bridegroom
sends thc gO-hctwocns with the presents 10 tho
bride elect. These may consist Of n variety Of
tllnEs varying according TO the taste or ability
only that certain things ara included in tho
nulhDer u.s. Tor instance, some edible seaweed,
nwnnl. fhc preparation Of the Inter Ia made
chiefly ia the department of Ise. II noshi
cannot b. obtained. kind Of dried .nsh will
EMS, DC lew or many, the bridegroom must
send II written list Of the articles along with
thcm. forwhich specified form is furnished In
thu japanese works on the subject
I, These presents being received, and the we'd
dlng day being fixed hetwcen the brides pa
rents ana the gb-betwecns. nothing remains to
hs don" but to await tho appointed time
Meanwhile the bride and her family are ofcu-
pied in preparing the numerous presents To be-
the bridegroom on the night of the wedding.
IN The evening Of the day set Tor the nupta
ceremony the BRIDE dressed throughout I'm
wh!ie Vhe color Of mourning in Japan. Is cs-
eortrd IN the knngo or norimon tpnlnnuuinl 10y
her parents and invited relatives to the house
~ lhc bridegroom. At the present day she is
mot In the entrance Of tho house Nv certain fn-
miles employed 10 receive her. called mnchi-
loo-Ioo, who conduct her into "A separate apart
ineit whore she takes little rest. II should bo
stated that she left her fathers house. having
h.r head covered with wathhooshi a cap made
on moss sim, which entirely conceas the head
anu lace from view. and il not removed until
sne mas become wife, Whom sufficient time
has elapsed for the bride to refresh herself
huth she and the bridegroom proceed separate
~ tn the best room. where tho young man seats
himself ut ono end Of tho tokonofnn n
sort Of open closet or recess in the wall on.
Iosite 70 the entrance, which H. considered the
in"st honoranls place in The Japancsc house.
ste end OF the tukonoma. Tho go-hetwerns
also sit down. tho male by the bridegroom and
me irmnle 10y III" bride; Two other attendants.
in .i ana i"na1, usually young persons, each
bearing vessel with a long nandle. used NJ a
receptacle Tor sake. are likewise rrese to wait
upon ne bride and bridegroom and hll their
CUPS. The long handled TASKS have Il plprr
butt rtiv fastened To- each a largcnnd small ono
represent a male and fcmal" butterfly. The
Hun liHut- who bear them are there fore called
ly these names. and tn" idcns eNprc srd hv tho
symbol l.. that ~ butterflies always go IN pnirs
80 tho husband aud wife should aroouitnuy
cach other through IN, with a like constantly
Is tween tho bride and groom II placed tray
i,r rr snrne Ia'4n'Irl cups, on" upon an
Nos pour n hiln sake from both their ni-ks
ihi1 10" uprermOsi cup. while the bridegroom
dds 1t To be- flled. grasring twith both Hands
81" then SIPS the wine three times In a very
: Low, formal manner. md uasses the cup to tho
-imllar sips under cover II her veil when She !
!hhis th" .up 10 t.c female butterfly Who SITS
j, H1iir', lh' SECOND cup and tue third nre |
l"rty ms nine times. Hence the ceremony |
- c.itI Sd''-suir h"tY. and forms the most I'M !
partir- hushandand vile. While this lrinkingis |,
gong on, one or two male singers are scaled |
pehnd the screen IN she same room. chanting |
:, ,hEs OF r"nEratuation 10 the happy par. !
lh"y are now married. and the bride and /
groom proceed 10 an lthcr room. whore they pay |
their respects 10 her parents by drinking snsc /
through the SIh-Sdu-t1tio again After Tim /
hry are conductcd TO another room where the |
lr"s- Tor one Of bright and gay cOlor-. ana the !
groom puts on the kaml-shmo. or japanese
ull dress. distinguishes by the wing like shoul-
hey drink ~ each othrr three times tire. ,1ins
q natural concentration At the happy rhnnge
a Hi mas como over them, us Indicated b. their
This being done. thcre follows a feast 70 all in
u" d. Use. who ass .mhlD in one room. and re-.
/; ur themselves with the fare that tx ST before
In'ut the dawn ~ day The wedding tnrty
'r"aks up. Three days after M, hri,,s usually
iHys u visit 10 her own parents. when another
htrrtunmrnt Is mad e. 10 viii in the relatives Of
he family are invited.
Henreiorth the married woman f. regarded
= itNltS hrt Il H,s ,rb u. ~ II Were, into the
amily ~ her husband. and 20 have surr"n.lernd
ger lehtuonsllp lo her fathers house. Her
'uyt9 hrr iHth"r. law ANA muth-r-ln-law su-
pc lSrd"s All the obligations uf liial ulrty
Ihe common people il their matrimonial
lt'@, rnd"aN"r tp aiir rs TAR is posi- fI,, thor
4 the land. T