Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-01-09
A Chinese Marriage.

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A chinese Marriage.
The marriage ceremony in China diff
fers in many respects from that of our
own and other countries. Love before
marriage was never the fashion with
the Chinese. 4 Chinaman, if he moves
in circles, has never seen the lady to
whom he is betrothed, and has not the
remotest idea ofwhat she is like, wheth-
er she will at all resemble the creature
his fancy had painted, or whether the
first sight other unveiled face on the
day ofmarriage will cast a shadow over
the prospect Of his future. He does not
understand love ; it is no part Of the
marriage contract. He was probably
betrothed by his parents before his IN
iant eyes opened up on the charms Of
bis country. His intended wife has been
reared for him IN the strict seclusion Of
! her paternal home.
The parents Of manageable children
usually engage a professional person.
or go between, to negotiate an alliance
for their son or dau hler, Suitable pre-
sents are exchanged; an astrologer il
called in to fix lucky day for the cere-
mony. This individual professes to in.
yestigate the horoscope Of the contract.
ing parties, and to ascertain whether
the combined ages Of bride and bride
groom and the exact time Of birth wiz
create any bad influence # the two aie
united on given day.
Should 2 lady who has been be.hrolh
ed in the c',-.emy manner by her par
eats die before marriage. the bercavco
Youth : at liberty to make another en-
gagoment but should he die before
marriage, the young lady must 90 intc
weeds for the time Of her natural lic
and should she Guri . her Waiowhoo,
be held in esteem by her nei!Ab0rs io
perfect chastity. the Imperial Govern
ment will erect a stone arch over he
grave. There are many who. when ii
this situation. prefer to commit suiciI,
rather than face tie ills Of a spinster'
or widows life.
1t is usual during the marriage week
to engage a procession Of coolies t
parade the streets with the articles 0
household furniture the silks and jew
els otlhc new couple. On the day o
marriage the bride is in a nutter as sh'
is being blessed and painted BY her fc
male relatives and attendants. Th'
head dress. hung with glittering spray
Of pearls, is poised on the head, th'
last touch is given to the uniform fold;
of her red silk robe, the gorgeous gildeC
chair waits at the door ; she is gently
raised in her brothers arms and held
oyera FIRE ofcharcoal to dispelany lurk
| She is then carried to her chair, followed
by a chorus of weeping females, four o
whom are the bridesmaids, who are ole
married women. dressed in black ant
red scarfs. Then, amid the deafenin!
din Of firecrackers, the shrill tones O.
native flutes and boom Of gongs, she il
borne Of to the home Of the bridegroom
at the door Of which she is met by al
old woman, the mother of male children
II is then that one of the most tediou
of earthly ceremonies begins, wherein
the spirits of ancestors have to be wor
SHIPPED. the parents have to be worship
ell. and the marriage contract read
Then they drink the sacred wine cup
when two wine cups are united with
red silk thread and tie contents drum
by the young couple before the assem-
bled guests. The bride and bridegroom
arc usually seated during this part Of th
ceremony.
when the ceremony Is over the orld
takes of her outer robe, and prepare
TO submit herself to the varied (and wha
we consider sxti emcly rude (remarAs
the gentlemen present. who talk ireel
ofthe form OF her hands, feet, heaC
nose, mouth. eyes, etc. A feast lol
lows. and the happy pair don't go of d
cbase.and-four on their honeymoon
The lady retires to aud keeps the sIrl'
seclusion of her new home, while I'll
BRIDEGROOM ias in the feast, which
kept up to late hour.