Traditions

Matchmaking

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Matchmaking is a process of making a match of unmarried man and woman by a matchmaker, which is a common way of choosing spouse in ancient China. The traditional Chinese wedding is much involved with "matchmaker", or in other words, marriage introducer. In Zhou Dynasty several thousand years ago, the post of "official matchmaker" was set up for management of marriage, supervising and urging young people of nubile ages or widows and widowers to marry. Later, the meaning of "matchmaker" extended to all persons or events that act as a go-between of marriage between two families.

Traditional Chinese Weddings

Traditional Chinese wedding customs are considered as the foundation of rites in traditional Chinese culture. A wedding is usually a grand occasion with overly-elaborate formalities. There are eight major procedures of a wedding.

Details

Birthday Matching & Auspicious Day Choosing

Birthday Matching & Auspicious Day Choosing

The record of a person's horoscope indicates the sun's position at the time when the person was born. Therefore...
Sending Dowry & Betrothal Gifts

Sending Dowry & Betrothal Gifts

When the two families agree to the marriage, the man's family is supposed to send some betrothal gifts to the woman's family...
Sitting in the Bridal Sedan

Sitting in the Bridal Sedan

In former times, rich families would use a bridal sedan to welcome the bride, while poor families which couldn't afford a sedan would use a cart instead...
Performing Formal Bows

Performing Formal Bows

Performing formal bows by the bride and bridegroom is also called "worshipping the heaven and earth"...
Lifting the Bridal Veil

Lifting the Bridal Veil

Also called "veil" or "square veil", the bridal veil is an important article for the bride at the wedding...
Drinking "cross-cupped wine"

Drinking "cross-cupped wine"

Drinking "cross-cupped wine" is one last interesting custom in the bridal chamber before consummating...
Bridal Chamber Pranks

Bridal Chamber Pranks

It's an important part of a traditional Chinese wedding originated in the Qin and Han dynasties in order to drive out evil spirits and bad luck...
Visiting the Parental Home

Visiting the Parental Home

According to ancient customs, three, six, seven, nine, ten days or one month after the wedding, the husband should carry some gifts and visit his wife's parents' home...