Divorce is discouraged among Chinese society and is quite rare, particularly among those who hold closely to the beliefs of Confucianism. Couples are encouraged to resolve disagreements and disputes, and parents may mediate between the two. Traditonal Chinese custom believes that those in the afterlife continue with a life in the physical world. This may occur in extremis if, for example, a family has only one male heir who dies young and unmarried thus leaving the family without the possibility of ancestor worship. If a marriage results, the ceremony is similar to the normal marriage ceremony, the bride comes to live with the dead man's family and may then adopt a child to thus continue the lineage.
Spiritual marriage is very uncommon.