A Closer View Of Chinese Marriage Traditions
Like any other culture or ethnic group, China has developed its own unique Chinese marriage traditions. The events before, during, and after the wedding show a vibrant and one of a kind experience. It is important to remember, however, that there can be great variations in any of these general traditions due to social status, economics, or personal choice, especially nowadays.
Leading up to the Wedding
Chinese marriages used to be traditionally handled by a matchmaker and the two sets of parents involved, giving the potential couple practically no choice in anything. First the matchmaker would find what appeared to be a suitable match and talk to both sets of parents, similar to a real estate agent speaking to a buyer and seller. If both parties agreed that it seemed to be a good deal, the parents would meet with each other to negotiate a dowry and officialize the betrothal. This betrothal could only be undone of both sets of parents were in agreement to dissolve it. A fortune teller would then use the astrological calendar to set a date, one tradition that has still made its way into modern times.
The Day of the Wedding
Leading up the actual Chinese wedding ceremony, several actions were traditionally performed. To symbolize the entry into adulthood, an elaborate hair dressing ritual for the bride and capping ritual for the groom would take place. The bride’s hair was styled in the typical fashion of a married woman, and the groom received a special cap, presented to him in yet another ritual. Two processions would then ensue. The first was the procession of the groom’s party to the bride’s house to obtain her, sometimes followed by a feast hosted by the bride’s family. The second was from the bride’s house back to the groom’s house, where she was to begin her new life. It was only after this point that the groom was allowed to look at the bride’s face.
The Wedding Ceremony
A Chinese wedding was a very simple ordeal. The bride and groom would approach the groom’s family altar to pay tribute to their ancestors, to Heaven and Earth spirits, and to the god of the kitchen. Both sets of parents were then presented cups of tea. This might end the ceremony, or the bride and groom may partake together of a portion of food and a goblet of wine. In modern times lotus tea is still an important symbolic element of marriage, as “lotus” sounds the same as the words “seed”, “child”, and “year”, giving it significance as a sign of fertility.
Of course, many of these Chinese marriage traditions are no longer practiced, or are only paid tribute to symbolically in much less elaborate forms. However, it is still a rich and interesting part of Chinese culture that should not be overlooked.
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