Chinese Marriage: A Grand Showcase of Local Traditional Wedding Customs

Author: Li Nan et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The book "Chinese Marriage Customs" is compiled in a richly illustrated form, covering nearly 20 provinces and regions such as Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang, and includes more than ten ethnic groups such as the Han, Lisu,, Korean, Bai, Bouyei, Tu, Tajik, Dong, Miao, and Li. With the vast diversity of Chinese marriage customs, though not necessarily perfect, the scope is undeniably broad, enough to give a glimpse of the whole. Here, a splendid tapestry of folk customs unfolds, a landscape where the lens and pen intersect. Whether objectively described, subjectively experienced, lightly commented upon, or critically analyzed, following the gentle flow of the words, you can discover the vast ocean within the drop of water, appreciating the customs and embracing the beauty. "Chinese Marriage Customs" is a photographic book that showcases Chinese local traditional marriage customs and the charm of different traditions. The book consists of over 20 groups of exquisite photographic topics on marriage customs, rich in content and vibrant in presentation, comprehensively and vividly displaying the various marriage rituals and traditions across the vast land of China. It is illustrated throughout, appealing to both the refined and the popular. Suitable for readers interested in traditional ethnic marriage customs, especially young readers.
On the day of marriage, a girl must have her hair tied up and her face painted. The bride needs to wake up early in the morning, dress in her wedding attire, sit before the dressing table, and carry a mirror and a calendar on her back, stepping on a bamboo sieve. Women who understand the "Imperial Calendar" patiently flip through the calendar on the bride's back, waiting for an auspicious time to tie her hair. Then another female guest takes the comb and combs her hair three times, using silk thread to pluck the coarse hair from her face and neck. It is forbidden for girls with smooth faces, pregnant women, or widows to watch.
Before the wedding, the bride must cry in front of her relatives, a practice known as "crying for marriage." This is a very special kind of crying, expressing the joy of parting with her loved ones. As she cries, she tells stories, and if the bride has a talent for singing folk songs, she often turns her tears into songs. At this time, her elders come forward to cry with her, teaching her to be filial to her in-laws and loving her husband. Relatives nearby "cry with her" or "console her," turning it into a performance of "crying skills." Locals believe that "crying for marriage" is a auspicious symbol. Not crying is considered indecent, noisy, or unlucky, and it brings misfortune and lack of success in life. Additionally, crying for marriage also means that she can receive "pocket money" (money placed in red cloth bags) from her relatives. The more pocket money she receives, the better her reputation among her family and the more beloved she is.
During the wedding procession, the matchmaker leads the groom and 12 young men to the bride's home. When the matchmaker and the groom arrive at the bride's home to fetch her, the bride's family will block the door with benches and station guards at other passages, a practice known as "blocking the matchmaker." Blocking the matchmaker reflects the old attitude of women toward matchmakers. The bride's family sends a delegation of four to six young men and women (excluding brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law) to accompany the bride and the matchmaker to the groom's home. When the matchmaker brings the bride back to the groom's home, they do not rush into the courtyard but stand proudly outside the gate, waiting for the groom and his parents to thank the matchmaker. The matchmaker then makes up four-line rhymes, and at the end of each section, the groom's family must immediately present a "red envelope" as a token of gratitude.
In the old days, when the flower carriage arrived at the groom's home, a "returning carriage and horse ceremony" was performed. It was believed that the ancestors of the bride's family who had passed away would also come to see her off, so they had to be sent back. The ceremony was usually led by a chef, as chefs were well-versed in local red and white customs.