Abstract: Weddings in Japan include pre-god weddings, Christian weddings, pre-Buddha weddings and pre-human weddings. Among them, Christian weddings are the most popular among modern Japanese. Christian marriage, pre-divine marriage and pre-Buddhist marriage are all closely related to religion. But this is not the case. This paper tries to analyze the relationship between these three kinds of weddings and the corresponding religions from the aspects of their holding methods and forming reasons.
China paper/9/view-11836603.htm.
Key words: pre-divine marriage, pre-Buddhist marriage, Christian marriage religion
China Library Classification Number: G 13/ 17 Document Identification Number: A Document Number:1672-1578 (201) 02-01.
Now in China. When it comes to marriage, only the wedding banquet is left, and the wedding ceremony has gradually disappeared. However, in Japan, weddings are varied and colorful. Among them, there are three kinds of wedding ceremonies-"pre-divine marriage", "Christian marriage" and "pre-Buddhist marriage"-which one Japanese people choose more now. In particular, Christian wedding is the most popular and selective wedding in Japan. As we all know, there are not many Christians in Japan, and the number of Christians is less than 1% of the total population. But why is Christian marriage prevalent? Besides, are pre-God marriage and pre-Buddha marriage really closely related to Shinto and Buddhism as literally indicated? Let's get to know each other.
1 Historical Changes of Japanese Weddings
1. 1 Wedding Ceremony in Ancient Japan
Some westerners once rated Japan as "a country without wedding ceremonies". Judging from the history of ancient Japan. You could say that. The origin of Japanese weddings should be traced back to the oldest historical myth biography in Japan-ancient Japanese stories and records. According to these two books, Nagi and Isobo, mythical figures, ordered them to stand on the pillars of heaven and get married around it. Such a simple form was regarded as a wedding ceremony at that time. Formalist westerners really can't regard it as a wedding ceremony.
In peacetime, there is such a ceremony among nobles-"After a man and a woman make a wish, the man must go to the woman's mansion for three consecutive days. I usually go at night and come back before dawn the next day. Write me back when you get home. On the third day, both men and women ate cakes to congratulate them. Then, the woman's family banquets for relatives and friends. This marriage is recognized. " It was the product of the prevalence of "husband's marriage" and "wife-seeking marriage" at that time.
After entering the samurai era, weddings developed with the changes of marriage forms. The original "wife-visiting marriage" and "husband-in-law marriage" were gradually replaced by "wife-in-law marriage" in the samurai class (of course, most civilians still retain "husband-in-law marriage"). Therefore, some grand ceremonies were held in the man's home. Because the samurai class emphasizes hierarchy. There are also many restrictions on the ceremony. During the Edo period, "taking a wife" was gradually accepted by the public, and "self-occupied marriage" became popular.
1.2 meiji period
"Leaving home to get married" was also popular in the early Meiji period. In 1930s, the "pre-divine wedding" was adopted and spread by the wedding of Crown Prince Jiaren (later Taishi Emperor) and Jiujiezi (later Empress Zhenming). It became the mainstream of Japanese wedding ceremonies before and after World War II.
1.3 Wedding Ceremony in Modern Japan
In 1980s, after the Christian wedding of Yamaguchi Momoe and Japanese star Tomokazu Miura and the wedding of British Princess Diana and Prince Charles were exposed by the media, the Christian wedding became a fascinating form. Coupled with the efforts of Christians at that time, some Christian churches began to open to non-Christian newlyweds. Coupled with the rapid economic development at that time, many hotels began to set up church-style wedding venues, providing more choices for newlyweds. Until now, Christian wedding is still the first choice for Japanese.
Of course, in addition to Christian weddings, there are many weddings to choose from. Moreover, due to the continuous economic downturn in Japan after the bubble economy, many young people began to tend not to hold weddings. This has also become a topic worthy of discussion in modern Japan.
2 The relationship between the pre-God wedding ceremony and the Japanese Shinto
2. 1 holy wedding
The pre-god wedding was originally held in a shrine or in front of a god. Now temples are held in hotels or special wedding venues. The ceremony usually takes about 30 minutes. First of all, under the guidance of "Witch ③", the newlyweds, the matchmaker, the parents of the groom, the parents of the bride and their relatives entered the venue in turn, and finally the "vegetarian" talent show. After the clergy announced the start of the ceremony, "vegetarians" crossed their hands and prayed to God. After that, money and silk were lightly brushed on everyone's heads to show baptism and clean up filth. Lord Zhai began to chant Buddhist scripture. After the vegetarians say their prayers, the newlyweds begin the ceremony of "339 degrees" (5). After the ceremony, the groom made a speech. After that, the newlyweds and the people attending the ceremony held a jade string and made a "two obeisances, two clapping hands and one obeisance" ceremony to God. After the ceremony, the two sides toasted each other. After praying to God again, everyone left in the order in which they came in.
2.2 Relationship with Shinto
Pre-divine marriage appeared in the Edo period, but it was not adopted by the royal family until the Meiji period, and it was not widely adopted. Perhaps, the combination of the former divine marriage and the royal wedding will make people mistakenly think that it is the influence of Japan's "national Shinto". But in fact, at that time, Japan was in the period of "leaving Asia and Europe", imitating Europe and America in everything and devoting itself to establishing a modern state system. The royal wedding at this time was actually a cover for the reformists to publicize politics at that time. This is an attempt to unify the people's hearts and establish a "god country centered on the emperor"-this is also an imitation of Europe and the United States to control the people's hearts with religion.
Therefore, although Japan has a close relationship with Shinto since ancient times, the pre-God marriage style only spread in modern times, which shows that it has little to do with historical inheritance. It has nothing to do with shinto. Even if there was, it was one of the means by which the government promoted "civilization" at that time.
3 the relationship between Christian wedding and Christianity
3. 1 Christian wedding
Nowadays, the popular Christian marriage in Japan is formed by imitating Christian marriage. The place where they hold the ceremony is generally not in the church, but in some places specially set up for weddings unrelated to the church (for example, many hotels now have such places) or in some places specially set up by churches.
In general, it is presided over by a priest (now the church sends priests according to the needs of the times, and hotels and other places can directly hire priests). It's similar to the plot on TV-the groom is standing in front of the altar waiting for the bride wearing a beautiful wedding dress and holding flowers. The bride walked slowly across the red carpet holding her father's hand. The father gave his daughter's hand to the groom ... and then the hymn sounded and the Bible was read aloud. Then, under the guidance of the priest, they formed a lifelong alliance, exchanged wedding rings and left.
3.2 Relationship with Christianity
As we all know, the development of Christianity in Japan is not smooth. During the Edo period, Christians were once subjected to devastating expulsion and persecution. Until the "black ship" knocked on the door of Japan and closed the country to the end. Japan began to modernize, Christians who had been hiding in Japan for many years began to resume their original activities, and Western Europe sent a group of missionaries. Even so, the number of Christians in Japan so far only accounts for L% of the total population. The reason must be clear to everyone. Because the "monotheism" of Christianity is inconsistent with the traditional religious thought (polytheism) of Japanese nationals. However, the separation of religious thoughts did not affect their love for Christian marriage. According to an online survey, more than 50% of modern Japanese still choose Christian weddings.
Let's first look at the background of the development of Christian marriage. Before 1950s after World War II, Christian weddings were strictly restricted ―― non-Christians were not allowed to hold weddings in any Christian place. In the late 1960s, Japan's economy began to grow at a high speed. In this context, some Protestants began to set up venues outside the church to accept applications for non-religious weddings to increase their income. In the 1970s, the wedding industry came into being, which promoted the public's demand, so these venues have gradually failed to meet the demand. In the 1980s, the wedding of the idol star and the prince and princess mentioned above was widely publicized in the media, which greatly promoted the development of Christian marriage. At this time, many hotels began to set up Christian church-style wedding venues to create romantic Christian wedding ceremonies. It can be seen from the development of Christian marriage that Christian marriage in Japan has nothing to do with Christianity. Of course, its development was really promoted by Christians, but the people who held the wedding ceremony were non-believers, accounting for an absolute majority. Even if the priest reads the Bible at the wedding, how many new people really listen? This kind of wedding ceremony is only the product of Japanese yearning for and worship of the West. For them, a beautiful white wedding dress is more attractive than Christianity.
4 The relationship between pre-Buddha marriage ceremony and Buddhism
4. 1 pre-Buddha wedding
Pre-Buddha weddings were originally held in temples, or monks were invited to hold them at home. But now, most ceremony venues are located in wedding venues or hotels. Of course, some temples have special courtyards for weddings. Although there are factions in the ceremony, newlyweds usually invite their parents and relatives to sit down before entering the venue, and then put their hands together to worship Buddha. The monk who presided over the ceremony began to recite the scriptures, and the newlyweds delivered speeches. Then, the host gave everyone a rosary (this is the most obvious sign that the pre-Buddha wedding is different from other weddings). Finally, everyone bowed and left.
4.2 Relationship with Buddhism
The pre-Buddha wedding ceremony did not exist since ancient times, but it was only in modern times that it was initiated by the Buddhist Rilian School. At that time, it happened to be the period when pre-divine marriage was prevalent.
Buddhism is a religion that advocates "six clean and four empty". "Color and sex" is a taboo in Buddhism. Women are the "root of all evil". How can they "preach" through the wedding? However, in modern Japan, not only is there a wedding ceremony before the Buddha, but even monks can get married. It can only be said that with the progress of the times, Buddhism in Japan has also begun to reform. It is an effort and a strategy they made in the fierce religious competition, which created the pre-Buddha marriage style in that era when the pre-God marriage style prevailed.
Therefore, although chanting Buddha is held in front of the Buddha, everyone holds prayer beads, and most Buddhists choose pre-Buddha weddings. But judging from its origin and development, it has little to do with religion itself. It is just the principles and strategies adopted by Buddhists in order to gain a foothold in the competition.
To sum up, the pre-divine wedding, the Christian wedding and the pre-Buddha wedding all began to appear in modern times, not in ancient Japan. It is not a wedding with traditional characteristics and close relationship with religion. This relationship between them just reflects the religious consciousness of the Japanese.
Japan has had the idea of "the unity of God and Buddhism" since ancient times. Many Japanese people have always called themselves "unbelievers". But they will visit shrines or temples during the Lunar New Year. Speaking of marriage, choose a wedding ceremony that seems to be related to religion. That is to say, in Japan, people do not look at religion from the perspective of faith, but regard religion as an existence that caters to people's needs. Maybe they don't have this kind of consciousness, but they have this kind of thought unconsciously.