Chinese Marriage

Ever since ancient times, there has been a saying that the three most delightful moments in one's life come with success in the imperial examination, marriage and the birth of a son. From the Qin (221 BC – 206 BC) to Qing (1644 – 1911) Dynasties, the feudal system dominated over two thousands years. During this period, the importance of getting married was far more than that a person found his better half. For the male side, it determined the prosperity and even the future fame of their family; while for the female side, it meant that parents lost the chance of seeing their daughter for a long time. Thus to choose an ideal partner was vital for both the individual and the family.

 When we speak of Chinese marriage, we mean the Chinese traditional marriage. The process of the marriage is very complex and it varies from place to place. But it has a similar pattern.

In China, to get married was traditionally considered a must. A Chinese motto says well: It is natural to get married when you grow up. So when a girl reached 28 and still remained single, she world get a lot of pressure from relatives, neighbors and even co-workers

Since ancient times, marriage has been regarded as one of the three most blessed events in the life of a Chinese person. The other two are passing the imperial examination and the birth of children. Marriage is solemnized with lots of interesting customs.

In the past, following feudal customs, young men and women were not allowed to choose their future partner themselves. The decision was made by their parents and a matchmaker. Some youths even had their mate picked out for them before they were born. When both sides of parents agreed on the marriage, they would exchange betrothal gifts and choose a day they believed to be auspicious to hold the marriage ceremony.

The wedding ceremony was supposed to be the highlight of the whole marriage; the bride was regarded in a high position and was the center of attention, but was expected to be obedient in her new family after the wedding day. The new couple would kneel in front of the bridegroom’s parents and bow deeply to the heaven and earth, to their parents, and to their future life together. During the wedding feast, the guests would think o f intriguing games for the couple to play. Their embarrassment would bring gentle laughter from the guests.

Today although customs have been simplified and westernized, there are some that are still observed.