The Washington herald., 1909-06-30
A WEDDING OF OLD JAPAN.
Ceremonial SPIender When Prince
and Princess Were Married.

and Princess Were Married.
The marriage Of the Imperial Princess !
Kane. seventh daughter OF the japanese !
Emperor. which took place in Tokyo on /
April o. presented an array Of ancient /
ceremonial splendor not to be paralleled |
by any Ike occasion IN other lands. and |
revealed an interesting insight into what 1
constitutes a valid nuptial knot among
the children Of the gods. says the New
York Evening Post
The bridegroom. the young Prince Kit
sshirakawa. began his ceremonial toilet
at dawn on the happy day appointed: and
/ then. attired IN the gorgeous marital
robes Of his ancient escort. he set out In
/ a coach Of state, attended by court Of
\ hcials and a military escort, for the pal
I ace Of the Emperor. There he was met
/ By the sacred officials IN old-time garb
and ushered into the imperial sanctuary,
20 wait before the shrine OF the august
spirits OF the ancestors.
/ A few minutes subsequently was an
nounced the arrival OF the bride-elect.
Her imperial highness had also arisen at
5 a. m, and by $50 a. N. had completed
her preparations for the great event. Then.
partaking Of the customary rice. mixed
with beans. and robed in the ancient cers-
moniai costume. started IN a state car
riaSe for the holy OF HOLES where the
imperial bridegroom was awaiting her.
BY a. m. the high personages Of state,
who alone were permitted 10 witness the
religious part OF the ceremony. had begun
to assemble, and at 2 O'Clock. the hour
set for the commencement OF the cere-
Eony. about 200 guests had taken their
places in the imperial sanctuary. Sharply
on the hour, a weird music. as from the
spirit land. began to play on instruments
apparently as primitive as those Of Ju-
bal: then the doors Of the ancestral ceno-
taph slowly opened, devOtions were per
Tor ned. and the usual offerings laid be-
fore the august spirits OF the anceste s.
The marriage ceremony proper began
with an address TO the gods. the guests
and the bridal pair by the imperial ritual
ist OF officiating priest Of the Shinto faith
upon the conclusion Of which the princely
bridegroom addressed the spirits OF the
imperial ancestors. announcing his mar
riage 10 the daughter OF their august de-
scendant. the reigninE Emperor. Where
upon the chief rituallst presented a cup
Of sacred sake first 10 the groom and
then 70 the bride. Thus having sealed
the nuptial tie. each 10 the other. q royal
salute was heard without. proclaiming the
union. The newly welded pair then
withdrew 70 change their robes. reappear-
ing few minutes later in the Grape Hall
the prince in a military uniform and the
princess IN regular court dress, where
they received congratulations from the
Emperor ana Empress
But the fun ceremonial OF the occasion
was not yet complete That so far had
been a ceremonial for the sake OF the an
cestral spirits: next came the ceremony
for the sake Of the living For this the
imperial couple withdrew 70 their new
palace, at Tanakawa, where the cere-
mony Of exchanging the sake cups was
observed in the presence of the relatives
and friends. This was net quite so sol.
emn as the rites befope the cenotaph o.
the ancestral spirits but quite as elab
crate and interesting; for this ceremony
all respectable japanese observe in seal
ing the marriage bond. Subsequently III,
bride and groom held a reception 10 re
ceive the congratulations OF their friends
AT half past in the evening a gor,
Eeous feast in honor OF the occasion wa
given by the Emperor and Empress, Il
the presence Of all the imperial princes
E and princesses. high officials, and peers
; as well as the foreign ambassadors AM
g their wives. At the close Of the feast tn,
: Emperor offered a, cuR Of sake TO tn
bride and Bridegroom, in accordance wit
the time-honored custom Of the imperis
house. IN honor OF which now the Who'll
company broke out with a loud banza
. Every guest at dinner received a silve
bowl OF exquisite design IN honor Of tn
8 event At a quarter past o'clock thei
| maiesties withdrew and the happy coupl
left for their place al Tanakawa.