The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-31
ALApANEsN WEDDING.
The ordeal Candidates for Matrlmony Have
TOGO Through,

Shanghai Courier,
In old Japan, when man wanted to get
wife, he went to the house Of the girl
whom he ianCled and threw one Of his
shoes into the yard. II the shoe were
picked up and taken inside by her, he
looked for a favourable issue, but II 1t
were cast out again he went away dlscon-
ISOLATE. But now, as Japanese student
quantity put It, Marriage, like tea, Ia at
tended with confused ceremony" which,
to be complete, would require long des-
Cription. When son attains suitable
age, his parents with his concurrence, ask
their friends 10 inquire after wife. When
friend hears Of a girl who will possibly
suit he makes full inquiries regarding her
character and daily conduct, aud then re-
ports to tho parents OF the young man.
II the parents are satis6ed, they appoint
some friend (nikddO) to settle matters.
Marriages. conducted without intermedi-
aries (nikadO) frequently happen in ia.
pan but US yet the results have not been
sufficiently happy to justify departure
from the national custom. 1t Ia the duty
OF the intermediary TO 60 to the
parents OF tho girl and propose an alll-
anCe. A direct refusal to such an over
ture Is considered very rude, even where
the parents are unwilling to enter into
terms. 1t Is customary 10 ask for few
days for full consideration Of THE mat.
ter, these days being taken up with
making inquiries regarding the character
and conduct OF the young man. II the
parents Of the girl are in their turn salts
lied, they inform the intermediary OF their
compliance, and he will settle a day for
the Mai, or secret glimpse. On this critl.
cal day the girl goes in all her 6nery, ac'
companied by her mother and an attend
ant, to some public place, often q Shinto
temple. The young man Is there al
ready, expecting her, and seated on the
bench OF q tea.house, observesthe party
as II goes by. The girl cast q short glance
at him and II both are pleased the wed.
ding day Ia fixed. Sometimes however,
the Mai takes place In q neighbours house
or In the theatre. The intermediary goes
next day to the brides house with pres
ents, in token that all is arranged, The
near relatives Of both parties, and often
the intimate friends OF the bridegroom,
are invited to the wedding. On the we'd
ding the fathers OF the young couple
station themselves in the evening OF the
entrance TO the bridegroom's house and
await the arrival Of the bride in norimono,
jinrikshd, or carriage. She 10 forthwith
conducted to the room where her phara.
phernalia WIS carried q few days previously,
and here 81 rests awhile and arrays her.
aa1f t,t has Sua1HtNn no RtNat1Na
The really important ceremony then
follows In q private room, where only the
Intermediary, who Is always a married
man, and his wife are allowed TO be pres.
ent with the young couple. Two young
friends, q boy and q girl, are also present
In the capacity Of attendants, These are
provided each with peculiarly shaped,
highly ornamented and symbolic vessel
containing sake The ceremony which Is
called Sdn.Jankudo, or three times three"
consists in drinking, in somewhat intri.
cate fashion, from three shallow cups Of
graduated Bize, which rest In an inverted
position, the one above the other,
upon q special form Of tray; the
smallest being undermost. The inter.
iuOdlary, who sits facing his wife, with
the bride.and bridegroom TO the right and
left, present the tray and CUPS 10 the
bride. She lifts the uppernost cup and
holds II before her, while the young at
tendants, one on each side, simultaneously
pour In a little sake, which she then drinks.
The cup now passes 10 the bridegroom, TO
whose side the young attendants move
and the same operation 10 performed. II
then passes back again TO the bride, and
90 on, 10 and flo, till each one has gone
Though the ceremony three times. The
first cup 10 then removed, aud exactly the
same series Of operations gone through
with the second cup, and finally
with the third. The feast d gen.