The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-25
MARRIAGE IN JAPAN.
Professional Match-Makers-B -BetrOthed In Infan.
Cy-Other Peculiar Customs

Japanese Times.l
The lower orders Of the Japanese employ some
married couple to make matches for their sons,
and these agents are called nakodo, or go-be,
tweens, Betrothals sometimes take place in the
infancy or childhood Of parties but it is very often
deferred until they are old enough to wish to have
some voice in the matter themselves which, how
ever, is denied them If they have parents living
When, by reason of the death of his parents, a
young man is left free to manage the matter In
his own behalf he chooses pair OF go-betweens
from among the friends or acquaintances, and
through them makes inquiries for a suitable help
mate, and when they report the discovery Of one
he sends them to solicit her hand of her parents.
II the proposal suits her parents the bargain is
made, and by their conniVance meeting Is ar
ranged to take place atsome tea house unless they
already know each other by sight where the be-
trothed can only cast sly glanCes at each other
but are permitted TO hold no conversation as that
in the present stage Of affairs would be q breach
OF Japanese etiquette.
In arranging matters for the wedding, fixing
the day for 1t, &C., other gobetwerns are employ.
ed whose office expires only when the two are
made one. First, the Young mau sends.the go.be.
twtens with the presents to the bride-elect. These
h1uy COuslob VI q variety vi buluBbI varying hC'
cording to the taste or ability of the bridegroom,
or his parents provided only that certain things
are included in the number as for instance some
edible seaweed, and noshi, or strips Of dried and
powdered awabi. The preparation Of the latter is
made chiefly In the Department of Ise. If nOghi
cannot be obtained, kind Of dried fish will an.
swer for the purpose. But whether the presents
be few or many the bridegroom must send
written list Of the articles along with them, for
which specified form Is furnished in the Japan
ese works on the subject.
These presents being reCeiVedan the wedding
day being fixed between the brides parents and
the go-betweens, nothing remains to be done but
to await the appointed time. Meanwhile the
bride and her family are occupied IN preparing
the numerous presents to be made by them to the
parents and relatives Of the bridegroom on the
night of the wedding.
In the evening Of the day set for the nuptial
ceremony the bride, dressed throughout in white
(the color of mourning in JAPAN is escorted in
the kGRgO or nOrinlOn (palanquin) by her parents
and invited relatives to the house Of the BRIDE
groom. At the present day she is met in the en-.
trance Of the house by certain females employed
to receive her, called mdChi jOo-rOO, who conduct
her Into separate apartment, where she takes a
little rest 1t should be stated that she left her
fathers house having her head covered with a
Wstaboosbi a cap made of floss silk, which en-.
tirely conceale the head and face from view, and
Is not removed until she has become wife.
When sufficient time has elapsed for the bride
TO refresh herself, both she and the bridegroom
proceed separately to the best room, where the
young man seats himself at one end of the toxic.
noma, sort OF open closet or recess in the wall
opposite TO the entrance, which is considered the
most honorable place In the Japanese house. And
the young lady takes her seat at the opposite end
OF the tokonamO. The 60 betweens also sit down,
the male by the bridegroom and the female by
the bride. Two other attendants. male and fe-
male, Usually young PERSONS each bearing yes
sci with q long handle used as a receptacle for
SAKE are likewise present to wait upon the bride
and bridegroom and fill their cups The long.
handle TASKS have paper butterfly fastened to
eachi large and small one represent a male and
female butterfly. The attendants who bear them
are therefore called by these names and the idea
expressed by the symbol Is, that as butterflies al.
ways go In pairs, so the husband and wife should
accompany each other through life with like
constancy.
Between the bride and groom Is placed tray
bearing three lacquered cups, one upon another,
the smallest at the top, The two butterflies pour
little sake from both their TASKS into the upper
most cup, while the groom holds II to be filed,
grasping 1t with both hands He then sips the
wine three times in very slow, formal manner,
and passes the cup to the bride, who takes 1t in
her hands and takes three similar sips under Gov
er Of her veil, when she hands the cup to the fe-
male butterfly, who sets 1t aside. The second Gun
and the third are filled and emptied in like
manner, 80 that each party drinks nine times,
Hence the ceremony is called sdnsdn-kudO and
forms the most important part of the nuptal rites
for 1t makes the parties man and WIFE, While
this drinking Is going on one or two male singers
are seated behind the screen In the same room
chanting songs Of cORgratulation to the happy
pair. They are now married, and the bride and
groom proceed to another room, where they paw
their respects to her parents by drinking sake to.
gether; nOminally but not really going through
the sdn-sdnkud0 again. After they are Conducted
TO another room, where the bride removes her
veil and exchanges her white dress for one OF
bright and gay c0lors, and the groom puts on the
kamishimo, or Japanese full dress, distinguished |
by the wing'like shoulder pieces and full trou.
sers, and then again they drink to each other |
three times three cups in natural congratulstion |
at the happy change that has come over them as |
indicated by their change of dress,
This being done there follows feast to all in |
the house, who assemble in one room and regale |
themselves with the fare that is set before them
and, having kept up the festivities until dawn the
wedding party breaks up Three days after the |
bride usually pays visit TO her own parents, |
when another entertainment Is made TO which |
the relatives Of the family are invited.
Henceforth the married woman is regarded as |
having been absorbed, as 1t were, into the family
Of her husband, and to have surrendered her re.
lationship to her fathers house. Her duty to her
father-iu-law and ndmotherin.laW supersedes ali the
objects Of flial piety.
The common people, In their matrimonial rites,
endeAyor to ape as far a. possible their superjoF0'
me oAlmca and other great people Of the land.