婚禮A look at Traditional

and Modern Chinese Weddings

• Weddings in some form have been around for as long as mankind

• 402-221 B.C. Weddings were systemized in China (The Warring States Period)

• Three books were compiled– The Book of Rites– The Book of Etiquette and Cermony – Biahu Tong• Outlined the 3 covenants and 6 rites

Traditional

• “Marriage was for continuing the ancestral line and creating alliances between families –; too important a duty to be left in the rash hands of the young"

The Proposal1. Boy’s parents find girl

2. Send messenger with gifts to girl’s parents (obtain girl’s birthday and hour)

3. Family Alter and Mystics are consulted

4. Send girl’s family more gifts and Boy’s birthday and hour

5. Girl’s family and mystics consulted

6. Finally parents meet and hash out agreement

7. Messenger takes betrothal gifts to girl’s family and has them choose wedding date

8. Several days later girl’s dowry is sent to the Man’s family

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The bridal chamber婚禮室

Guess what!?!

• The day before a wedding a “Good Luck Woman” was hired to help prepare the Bridal bed.

• After the bed was in place, children were invited onto the bed as an omen of fertility –; the more, the merrier. For the same reason, the bed was scattered with red dates, oranges, lotus seeds, peanuts, pomegranates and other fruits. Part of the fun was watching the children scramble for the fruit.

• The “Good luck woman” attended the bride by bathing her, dressing her hair and then carrying the bride on her back to the bridal chair.

• The bride traditionally wore red the color of happiness

婚禮節

新郎• Capping ceremony

• Procession to Brides house

• Returning with the Bride

• Arriving at the Groom’s house

The End