S h i n t o W e d d i n g
A Japanese bride wearing the traditional white japanese wedding kimono, called shiro-maku. Shiro meaning white and maku meaning pure. The wedding kimono actually consists of two different kimono. The white wedding kimono is worn for the wedding ceremony and an elaborate rich patterned silk brocade kimono called uchikake is worn over the white kimono at the wedding reception.
In a traditional Japanese wedding, the brides hair is also styled in the traditional hair style called bunkin-takashimada and adorned with beautiful gold combs and accessories called kanzashi. She also wears a special headdress called tsuno kakushi. The purpose of wearing this headdress was to veil her horns of jealousy, ego and selfishness – attributes that should not be displayed at a wedding in front of the groom and his family. It symbolized her resolve to become a gentle, obedient wife. In the past, hair was thought to be unclean, and people wore a headdress to hide it.
The Wataboshi hood was also supposed to conceal the brides face from everyone excpet the groom.
Shinto is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and as old as Japan herself. It remains Japan’s major religion besides Buddhism.
