Yuinou, Japanese Ceremony of Engagement
Ai Nishimura
ai56324@nifty.com
Introduction
Yuinou is a Japanese traditional ceremony of an engagement. Both families
exchange money and articles as a token of the engagement in the ceremony.
The interesting point is that the ceremony is exchanged not only by a couple
concerned, but their family. This is due to the Japanese concept which regards
marriage as a connection between both families. In addition, Yuinou is
exchanged under the various meanings. To understand these sense and traditional
style of engagement is Japan, it will be useful for us to know what Yuinou is.
The contents of Yuinou
Process of Yuinou Yuinou is exchanged when a couple reaches agreement on
their marriage. Their association changes to the engagement through Yuinou.
Though it is not necessary to hold Yuinou to marriage legally, it has been
exchanged conventionally until today.
Purposes of Yuinou Yuinou is exchanged for the various purposes. First
of all, people can confirm that the engagement is concluded. At the same time,
they pray for the conclusion of marriage by doing the ceremony. The engagement
will be official through Yuinou. Secondly, a bridegroom side does it to express
their gratitude to a bride side, because a bride is considered to be a member
of bridegroom side after a marriage. The gratitude is against marrying a girl
whom their parents have brought up with tender care.
History of Yuinou Yuinou has a long history, and it has been succeeded
until today, being changed its style. The origin of it dates back to fourteen
hundred years ago. The emperor of those days, Nintoku, made a preset to his
bride who became an empress later. After that, it had been done only among the
Court or nobles for a long time. It had kept pace with the times, changing its
style, and were systematized by a military in the Muromachi era. At that time,
the form of Yuinou that adopted manners of military was completed. Then, it was
in the late Edo when Yuinou spread among public. It spread among the rich at
the beginning, but has gradually spread among whole public until today. Today,
its style ha s changed compared with the past days. However, each family or
regions succeed respectively.
What matchmaker means Matchmakers do an intermediation of the marriage.
They are called,"Nakoudo" in Japanese. They are relatives of a couple, or a
third party. Their work is to manage affairs for the marriage. In addition,
they sometimes will support a couple as their assumed parents after the
marriage. Of course, they usually join Yuinou.
Articles that are exchanged in Yuinou Though the style is various up to
each family or region, seven things are generally exchanged. They have been
believed to symbolize happiness for a long time in Japan. Then, we can divide
them into three types with the meaning they have.
Things which are contained type one are Noshi and Surume: Noshi is made of an
abalone, and Surume is a dried cattle fish. They are connected with happiness
from their materials. Noshi represents longevity, and ancient Japanese thought
it fortune to use fishy things like abalone in a feast. Surume means pregnancy.
For the more we chew it, the better it tastes. People wish a bride might be
pregnant like it.
Things which are contained type two are Konbu, Tomoshiraga, and Suehiro: Konbu
is tangle, Tomoshiraga is made of a hemp, and Suehiro is a fan. They are
connected with happiness from the meanings their name have. When their names
are pronounced in Japanese, they have meanings. Konbu means a woman who bears
a child, and symbolizes being blessed with children. Tomoshiraga means to turn
gray hair together, and symbolizes living together until getting old. Suehiro
means growing prosperous. The reason a fan is exchanged is that noble men
composed Japanese poem on that when he proposed marriage to women in Heian-era.
Kosoderyou and Yanagitaruryou are contained type three, offering money. Kosode
means a dress, and Yanagitaru means a bassel made of plain wood in Japanese. As
for Ryou, it means money. In old times, a wedding dress or Japanese rice-wine
in Yanagitaru tends to be exchanged, but money have became substitute for these
articles as time passes. Kosoderyou and Yanagitaruryou are traces of old times.
By the way, it was after World War II that an engage ring called Yubiwa was
exchanged in Yuinou. Therfore, it is historically new article.
These above things are decorated with ornaments which are also symbolized with
happiness. They are a pine, a bamboo, a plum tree, a crane, and a tortoise. A
crane symbolizes the strength of lover's affection, because the bird never
lives with another crane if its partner dies. A tortoise symbolizes being
blessed with children, because it lay many eggs. In addition, both creatures
are the symbol of longevity in Japan, as a proverb says that a crane lives for
a thousand years as a tortoise for ten thousand. A pine symbolizes prosperity
because of its evergreen. A bamboo symbolizes moderation and innocence, because
it sprouts upright. Lastly, a cherry tree is connected with happiness for its
beautiful blossoms.
Some articles besides seven things are exchanged in a region. For example, a
teaplant is exchanged in Kyusyu. It symbolizes that a couple will marry forever
because of the impossibility of its transplantation. In another region, Izumo,
riceare exchanged to wish a couple will eat enough forever.
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Articles which my parents exchanged in their Yuinou
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Recent tendency of Yuinou Yuinou has been the traditional ceremony of an
engagement for a long time in Japan, but the situation is getting changed
recently. The ceremony is getting simplified. For example, we can see the
movement in the place where Yuinou is held, and articles which are exchanged.
As for the place, traditional Yuinou had been held in alcoves of each house ,
but the latest Yuinou is sometimes held in matchmaker's house or a hotel. About
articles their appearance is getting changed. They are becoming so artistic
that a couple can use them as ornaments of their new house. More people
exchange only offering money these days. Some people present what do not stick
form like a tiepin. In addition to this situation, I hear the number of young
couple who think Yuinou unnecessary increases. They think it better to use
money for their honeymoon or wedding expenses that using for Yuinou. The money
that is presented to a bride side is usually amount five hundred thousand Yen.
I can greatly understand recent trend to use the money for practical purposes.
I think formal mood such as traditional manners may be another reason young
people refuse Yuinou. I think young people do not like such mood well as long
as I know.
My opinion In my personal opinion, I did not understand the significance
of Yuinou before. I did not like the concept which Yuinou has, the connection
of both families. I thought marriage was the connection of couple, and not of
both families. However, my thinking has little changed through this essay. I
knew the parental affection which seven things mean. A couple can hold marriage
ceremony hence their parents' affection and support. As for offering money, I
still do not like the concept. Offering money to express gratitude to bride's
parents seems to me humiliating for bride in a sense. For she seems to be
regarded as an article. Yuinou succeeded Japanese spirits which celebrate
engagement, so I think it significance as a Japanese to hold Yuinou. However,
it will better to hold Yuinou simpler. For example, decreasing the amount of
offering money, or holding Yuinou without matchmakers.
Conclusion
Yuinou has the various meanings. For example, the thinking that regards
engagement as the link between both families, and the wish of longevity and
happiness which will last forever. Yuinou has been cultivated in Japanese
tradition for a long time, so to understand what it is will be a chance to
know Japanese custom. (1304words)
References
1980 太田武男 夫婦の法律（第三版）有斐閣
1985 太田武男 結納の研究 一粒社
1964 相賀徹夫 日本百科大事典 小学館
1981 Joy Hendry Marriage in Changing Japan Tuttle Company, Inc.
http://ux01.so-net.ne.jp/~suehiro/nanashina.html
http://www.navi.ne.jp/yuinou/new_page_6.htm
http://www.craft.ne.jp/yuinou/yurai/yurai.html
http://www.craft.ne.jp/yuinou/imi/imi.html