Japanese Weddings - History of Japanese Marriage - Japanese culture

JAPANESE WEDDINGS

History of Japanese Marriage

During the age of aristocracy, “Muko-iri” was the common marriage system in Japan. A bridegroom would nightly visit his bride at her home. Only after the birth of a child or the loss of his parents would be the bride be accepted as the wife in the man’s home. Among common people labor power was and essential factor to maintain a family. A bridegroom would live with his bride’s family to offer his labor for a certain length of time. The practice remains today in the system of adoption by which a man becomes a member of another family by marriage.

With the rise of “Bushi” warriors, the system of women marrying into men’s families called “Yome-iri” was gradually adopted and widely accepted in the 14th century and on. Under the feudal system marriages were often used as political and diplomatic approaches to maintaining peace and unity among feudal lords. Thus the personal will of men and women for marriage was ignored in the face of family interests and the social intercourse of unmarried persons was denied. Marriages came to be arranged by and for families and the role of “Nakodo” go-between became very important in Japan. Now this “Yome-iri” system is quite common in Japan and you can find the traditional procedure in the contemporary marriage.