Japanese Weddings

This site requires Javascript to be turned on. Please enable Javascript and reload the page.

Something Old and Something New: Illustrating Spousal Ceremonies in "Religious Ceremonies of the Known World"

Japanese Weddings

            Bernard gives a detailed account of Japanese marriages (without offering specific sources), and Picart creates an entire foldout engraving based on these descriptions. This is significant, especially because Bernard makes out Japanese people to be cruel to their wives and participating in “illegal” activities—it’s unclear who, exactly, would make any activities illegal. Nevertheless, Bernard is clearly fascinated by the various customs present in the Japanese wedding ceremony, comparing them to the Greeks, Romans, and “Mahometans” (Turkish Muslims). The bride and groom, per Bernard, are young, and have sometimes “had a marriage contract since they were children.”

The Setting: Bernard writes, “the bridegroom and bride go out of town two separate ways… and meet by appointment at the foot of a certain hill.” After this, they ascend stairs “made for the purpose” of marriage, and stand underneath a tent. Their friends and relations surround them, and a band of music plays in celebration throughout the ceremony.
            The God of Marriage and the Bonze: Waiting for the bride and groom underneath the marriage tent are two important religious figures. The first is the Japanese god of marriage, “placed upon the altar there, having the head of a dog, which is a lively emblem of the mutual fidelity requisite in a state of wedlock.” It is unclear which god Bernard and Picart meant here; while Japanese gods of marriage and fidelity did exist in the period, it would have been rare to have seen one with the head of a dog. Also present is the bonze, “whose office it is to perform the marriage ceremony. Bonze is an old French word meaning “Buddhist monk.”
            The Flambeaus: What Bernard calls a flambeau is essentially a candle, which both the bride and groom hold throughout the ceremony. Bernard continues, “there are several lighted lamps at a small distance from the tent; at one of which the bride lights the flambeau… after this the bridegroom lights his taper, or flambeau, by that of his intended bride.” This particular custom causes “acclamations of joy” among the guests. This Japanese custom bears a striking resemblance to the modern-day tradition of lighting a unity candle on a wedding day.
            The Sacrifices: Two sacrifices take place after “a large bonfire” is created at the base of the hill. First, thrown in the fire “are thrown all the toys and play-things which the young bride amused herself with in her virgin state.” After the ceremony, “two oxen are sacrificed to the god of marriage.” Both sacrifices celebrate the new life marriage can bring.
            Once the ceremony is complete, the groom takes his new bride home. Bernard describes the scene, writing, “the pavement and the threshold are strewed with flowers and greens, whilst flags and streamers on the house top seem to promise nothing but one continued series of delight.” The nuptial celebrations go on for eight days in Japan, each day full of both meaning and joy.

This page has paths:

Contents of this path:

This page references:

Japanese Marriage