MAKNA RITUAL DAN NILAI SPIRITUAL UPACARA PERNIKAHAN DI JEPANG (SHINZEN SHIKI)

Abstract

The shinzen shiki (神前式) wedding ceremony in Japan represents a ritual that integrates Shinto religious elements with profound spiritual symbolism. This study aims to examine the ritual meanings and spiritual values embedded in shinzen shiki and to understand its relevance in contemporary Japanese society. Through a literature-based analysis of scholarly works published between 2020 and 2025, this research finds that shinzen shiki functions not only as a form of social legitimacy but also as a medium for spiritual union between the couple and the kami (deities) who protect their families

Core rituals such as san-san-kudo (三三九度), the exchange of sake cups in three sets of three, express principles of harmony, purity, and lifelong commitment. The spiritual dimension of the ceremony reflects the Shinto ideal of kami to tomo ni ikiru—living in harmony with the deities (Sugiura, 2021). Despite declining practice due to modernization and the rising popularity of non-religious ceremonies (jinzen-shiki), spiritual values such as gratitude, sacredness, and filial respect remain preserved (METI Report, 2022).