American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-12-20
Married Life in China.

VERY little is known in this country of
the married life of the Chinese, but
nevertheless their habits and customs in
this respect are very minute, and by no
means void of interest. The patriarchal
system of the country is exhibited on a
small scale, in all Chinese households Z;
for as the Emperor claims to be, and the
oretically is, the absolute and despotic
ruler of his subjects, SO every father ex,
ercises a similar power over his family
even claiming the right to sell his chill
dren as slaves.
A woman in China, when once she is
married. and has assumed her husbands
clan name, becomes part and parcel OF
his family, and henceforward she has but
a slight connection with her own rela-
tions, her duty and obedience being en-
tirely transferred to her husband and his
parents, the latter of whom, sad to relate,
frequently treat her with great cruelty,
and more as a slave than a daughter-i in
law.
The Chinese wife's great hope and am
bition are that she may have male off
spring to perpetuate her husbands name,
to care for and support him in old age,
and after death to watch over and offer
sacrifice at his grave, and at stated periods
to burn incense before his tablet If she
chance to be so unfortunate as to have no
children, or only daughters, there is rare
ly any happiness in store for her in her
married life, and her husband is very
likely to take to himself concubine, il
he can afford to do SO, hoping thereby to
attain the darling wish of his heart.
When women have no children they
supplicate the goddess Hui-fu Fu-gen to
aid them and send them sons, for, if pos
sible, they would rather not have daugh
tiers. If a man have no sons he is thought
to live without honor and die unhappy
and so eager is Chinaman for male
heir, that, failing son of his own, he will
| adopt one from his brothers families, il
he can get one. Occasionally, too, from
this all-absorbing desire for a son, par
ents will bride a nurse to get some pool
| mans boy, and substitute him for new
ly-born daughter, In the exaggerated
| phraseology common to the Chinese, those
| who do this are said ''Tou lung, huan
feng," that is, to steal dragon and ex
| change it for phenix
When a son is born there are great re
Joicings in family, and shortly after
ward what is termed the milk name" is
given, which answers to pet names
| among ourselves. Later on the boy re
ceives a regular name, usually of tw,
characters, corresponding to what we cal
| the christian name" when written it i
| grown up even, boys are often called, no
by their proper names, but by their mum
Der in the family-for example, A-sze o
Awoo, that is, Number -Four or Numbe
| Five.
On the third day after its birth th
nurse washes the child for the first time
before the family image of the GOODIES
Mother" who is currently believed t.
watch over all children till they reacl
their sixteenth year, and at the same time
a thank offering of meat, cakes, fruit
wine, flowers, etc, is placed before her
in recognition of her aid in the characte
of Lucina- As is always the case will
such like oblations in China, they are af
terward consumed by the family
The important ceremony of "bndin,
the wrists is now observed, and tn
practice in this matter differs considera
bly, A common plan is to tie piece o