The Clan of Matsuyama

History

The Wedding

Clan Gathering 2000

 

The Clan of Matsuyama

The Wedding

The clan was conceived just after Pennsic War in 1998. That year saw the wedding of Matsuyama-dono to his beautiful and gracious consort, Fujiwara no Akiame. Upon their return to mundania, they wrote out the basics of what would become The Five Principles and the rules of the clan. Matsuyama-ji would officially be born the following February at the first Clan Gathering, 1999.

The wedding was designed to emulate a traditional Shinto ceremony. Weddings in feudal Japan were little more than marriage contracts. Often the only symbol that a couple had been married was the fact that they had spent a night together.
In a more formal ceremony, the couple might drink sake together - 3 by 3 times. Or nine cups of sake. This was deemed auspicious.
Following this ceremony, the couple would be entertained by their friends and relatives with a large banquet (this, at least, is the surviving modern tradition). This was the format for our wedding.

We prepared a sacred space free of evil kami in a traditional Shinto manner - four posts were set up each topped by willow branches and kami paper. each guest who entered our camp that day was required to ceremonially wash with water from a bamboo ladle. The officiator, Kuji-dono, further sanctified the space by pacing it three times and shaking water off a wand of willow branches. he also sprinkled the audience. The brinde and groom entered the space from opposite sides of our pavilion. Then Kuji-dono assisted them in washing.

Next, the couple and Kuji-dono payed respect to the ancestors. This was done by clapping three times and bowing to the ancestral altar. The altar consisted of Matsuyama-dono's great grandfather's armor, the banner of his lord's clan, and several offerings placed there by Kuji-dono: Sake, Rice, Incense, and the sacred Ho-ho. Flowers also decorated the altar.

Next, the couple approached the special table set up to hold the ceremonial sake and sakezuki. This is an excellent shot of Fujiwara-hime's clothing.

The couple each served sake one another.

The couple bow respectfully to one another after each sharing of the sakezuki.

Kuji-dono served them the last round.

This concluded the ceremony!

Now the entertainment and the feast could begin. By tradition, the newly-weds may request anything of their guests by way of entertainment. However, in return, the guests may make fun of the couple with jokes and embarasing rememberences. Here, Lord Derek Fairhair sings one of Matsuyama-dono's favorite nanbanjin songs; "The Landsknecht Song".

And the feast was delicious! Most of the foods prepared were traditional including vinegared vegetables, seasoned rice, dried fish, and fruits. Favorites like yakitori were also served along with tea, plum wine and much sake! In fact, the party went on long into the night and became the first-ever Willow Point Sake Party.

Here the bride's two brothers and her mother pose along with the groom's sister and brother-in-law for a family photo. Fujiwara-hime's family are mundanes and came to Pennsic just this one day in order to see the ceremony.