ChinesemarriagewassystemizedintocustomintheWarringStatesperiod(402-221B.C.).Duetovastexpanseandlonghistory,therearedifferentcustomstofollowindifferentplaces,althoughtheyaregenerallythesame.Visitorsstillgetchancetowitnesstraditionalmarriagesinthecountryside.
Intheancienttimes,itwasveryimportanttofollowabasicprincipleofThreeLettersAndSixEtiquettes,sincetheywereessentialtoamarriage.
ThreelettersincludeBetrothalLetter,GiftLetterandWeddingLetter.BetrothalLetteristheformaldocumentoftheengagement,amustinamarriage.Then,agiftletterisnecessary,whichwillbeenclosedtotheidentifiedgirl’sfamily,listingtypesandquantityofgiftsfortheweddingoncebothpartiesacceptthemarriage.WhiletheWeddingLetterreferstothedocumentwhichwillbepreparedandpresentedtothebride’sfamilyonthedayoftheweddingtoconfirmandcommemoratetheformalacceptanceofthebrideintothebridegroom’sfamily.
SixEtiquettes:
Proposing:Ifanunmarriedboy’sparentsidentifyagirlastheirfuturedaughter-in-law,thentheywillfindamatchmaker.Proposalusedtobepracticedbyamatchmaker.Thematchmakerwouldformallypresenthisorherclient’srequesttotheidentifiedgirl’sparents.
Birthdaymatching:Ifthepotentialbride’sparentsdidnotobjectthemarriage,thematchmakerwouldaskforthegirl’sbirthdayandbirthhourrecordtoassurethecompatibilityofthepotentialbrideandbridegroom.Ifthewill-be-married’sbirthdaysandbirthhoursdoesnotconflictaccordingtoastrology,themarriagewillstepintothenextstage.Oncethereisanyconflict,meaningthemarriagewillbringdisasterstotheboy’sfamilyorthegirl’s,themarriagestopshere.
Presentingbetrothalgifts:Oncebirthdaysmatch,thebridegroom’sfamilywillthenarrangethematchmakertopresentbetrothalgifts,enclosingthebetrothalletter,tothebride’sfamily.
Presentingweddinggifts:Afterthebetrothalletterandbetrothalgiftsareaccepted,thebridegroom’sfamilywilllaterformallysendweddinggiftstothebride’sfamily.Usually,giftsmayincludetea,lotusseeds,longan,redbeans,greenbeans,reddates,nutmeg,oranges,pomegranate,lily,bridalcakes,coconuts,wine,redhairbraid,moneyboxandotherstuffs,dependingonlocalcustomsandfamilywealth.
Pickingauspiciousweddingdate:Anastrologistorastrologybookwillbereferredtoselectinganauspiciousdatetoholdtheweddingceremony.Weddingceremony:Ontheselectedday,thebridegroomdepartureswithatroopofescortsandmusicians,whichwillplayhappymusicallthewaytothebride’shome.Afterthebrideisclusteredtothebridegroom’shome,theweddingceremonybeginsbetrothalletter
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