5609sn+Ancient+Civ+Project

Chinese Love and Loyalty

A Typical Wedding in Ancient China

5609sn

Reading Language Arts, 5B/6

Mr. Keith Schoch

June 7, 2012

Would you want to go through a bunch of rituals before your big wedding day? Inhabitants of Ancient China, or the Middle Kingdom ( [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_China] ), went through many processes. Although Chinese marriages are very complicated, the result will be worth it. Marriages became custom in China after about 400 B.C.E. and are still going on today ( [|http://tinyurl.com/bum3lk3] ). The Chinese are known for many great things that they invented that we still use today. They came up with the idea of paper money, something that is a necessity to us. They also increased trade abroad, invented the magnetic compass, wheelbarrow, and made the first seismograph, which is used to measure how strong earthquakes are (Zeman 33-34). China is located near the Yellow Sea, which is east of this amazing country. The Yangtze River runs right through it along with the Yellow River (Schomp 19).

However, an equally important and fascinating part of ancient Chinese culture was its marriages. Love and loyalty were important because marriage was thought to be the basic unit of society. We can learn more about this cultural aspect by looking at the Chinese’s proposal ritual, betrothal process, and marriage day. Before that special day comes the proposal. The soon to be groom’s family had to find a worthy bride for their son. After they target someone, the family goes to a matchmaker who would then collect information about both families. The matchmaker was required to expose any bad history or relationships from the couple to the opposing families. Soon, the groom’s family would send out a request letter to the lucky lady ( [|http://tinyurl.com/bum3lk3] ).

After the woman accepted the proposal, there would come the **betrothal**. The families would check the birthdates using a **Chinese Astrological Chart**. Based on the dates, the marriage would be approved or declined ( [|http://tinyurl.com/bum3lk3] ). The groom’s family would soon make a bride price, or ** Ping Kam **, which is based on their wealth ( http://tinyurl.com/7hyfcqw). Both families would trade things such as livestock, jewels, and money held in an **Ang Pow**  ( [] ). Soon, the price was paid to the family and was usually accepted.

Lastly is the wedding day. The bride and the groom usually wake up early (not in the same house) and get ready. The bride also bathed in **pomelo**, a fruit that is believed to keep away bad spirits. After bathing, she would then meditate among candles. Soon, she would have her hair done in a special way to show that she is now a married woman. A special woman in her life, usually her mother, would do her hair. She would comb the bride’s hair four times. The first time she combs her hair symbolizes “from beginning to end”. The second time is “harmony from youth through old age”, the third time is a wish for many grandchildren, and the fourth time is hope for wealth and marriage that lasts long ( [|http://tinyurl.com/7wduwtv] ). The groom would be getting dressed by his parents in a long gown with a red sash crossing his chest like an ‘X’. Then, a ball made of silk will be placed on his shoulder with red shoes on his feet. There would then be a feast at the bride’s house depending on her family’s wealth. Later in the day, the bride would be entering the groom’s house on a red carpet not touching the ground on the way ( [|http://tinyurl.com/bum3lk3] ).

Over time, China began to grow more as an economy. They began making things we use today such as wheelbarrows and seismographs. Some things are critical to our society, such as paper money. other, like compasses, were replaced with more modern technology. Ancient Chinese wedding traditions taught us that we must always be honest with the person we are about to spend our whole life with. We should expose our secrets just like how a matchmaker would.

Image Credits

1st image: []

2nd image: []

3rd image: []

4th image: []

Glossary

ang pow- A little red packet with money that is given out

bethrothal- A promise to marry

Chinese Astrological Chart - A chart based on your birth year which matches you to an animal which traits you share

pomelo - A fruit believed to wear away bad spirits

Ping Kam- bride price

Works Cited

"Ancient Chinese Wedding Traditions." Ancient Chinese Wedding Traditions.16 May 2012. . "Chinese Marriage." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 May 2012.16 May 2012. . "Chinese Prewedding Traditions." - Chinese Wedding Customs. Web. 30 May 2012. . "Chinese Wedding." Traditions, Door Games and Dressing Code in Beijing. May 2012. . "Chinese Wedding Traditions." WeddingChannel.com. Web. 25 May 2012. . Chinese-new-year-cards.blogspot.com. . Www.computersmiths.com. . Schomp, Virginia. The Ancient Chinese. New York: Franklin Watts, 2004. Print. Simpson, Judith, and Carol Michaelson. Ancient China. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life, 1997. "Some People Grow up Channeling the Princess Bride. Others Were Born to Be Bridezilla."Some People Grow up Channeling the Princess Bride. Others Were Born to Be Bridezilla. Web. 13 June 2012. . Zeman, Anne, and Kate Kelly. Everything You Need to Know about World History Homework. New York: Scholastic Reference, 2005.