This article looks at Shinto wedding rituals.
Rites of life: weddings
Last updated 2009-09-16
Shinto weddings
A Shinto bride ©Shinto weddings are much less popular than they were a generation ago. Then 70% of Japanese chose a Shinto ceremony, now the number is less than 20%.
The standardised Shinto wedding ritual is very recent, being based on the ceremony used for the wedding of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Princess Sado in 1900. Before that ceremonies varied a great deal.
A Shinto wedding is a small-scale affair involving the couple, their family and their close friends. The bride normally wears a white kimono with a white scarf. The colour symbolises purity.
The ceremony begins with ritual purification. Next prayers are offered for the couple to have good luck, happiness and the protection of the kami. Then the couple drinks sake - taking three sips each from three cups poured by the miko (shrine maiden) - and the groom reads words of commitment.
Priests, miko, bride and bridesmaids in a traditional wedding procession ©
Groom and bride ©In many, weddings rings are exchanged. This is followed by a sacred dance performed by the miko. The ceremony ends with an offering of tamagushi (a sacred branch) and a ritual sharing of sake by everyone present.
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