Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-09
Marriage In China.
Atlantic .JIllv

illustrates beyond any other custom
the principle of solidarity In Chinese
existence. Col. Tcheng informs us
that his countrymen consider the in
crease of the family the sole object of
marriage. This being one Of the most
sacred duties of man, matrimony is
universal, and entered upon very
early. Celibacy is condemned as
vice, and an old bachelor Or an old
maid is looked upon as a monster.
Marriages are made while the parties
are extremely young, according to our
notioas, and are arranged by the pa
rents, or the next of kin, often when
the future consorts are children.
ve-making, courtship, engagements
in our sense of the term, are unknown
and impossible; women, although they
go out unveiled, living in a sort of
gynec@um, to which only their inn
mediate kinsmen have access. The
preliminaries are frequently managed
by discreet and Jealous friends, or
even by respectable professional go
betweens. The first step Ia the al
hances is the solemn ceremony of be
trothal, emphasized by q festival in
both families, when the contract is
signed by the parents and heads of
the respective houses, and the bride
groom sends the bride q pair of brace
lets in token OF espousal; but neither
ne nor she is present on this occasion.
Later he sends what is kno6n il
France as the cOrbeiILe, or those
articles of brides wardrobe which
are not included In the rousseau
In China they consist of silk and cot
ton stuff and embr0ideries, and are
literally sent in a basket, or rather
several dozen very handsome ones
This is the signal for another pompous
ceremony; and on the brides part
there comes in return splendid dress
to be worn on the wedding day,
which, if her future husband is al
ready man of rank, is the uniform
of his grade; every degree of mandar-
in is distinguished by his costume, and
after marriage the wife wears a dress
corresponding to his title. The bride
groom, moreover, sends to the lady's
family presents of choice eatables,
notably peculiarly delicious sort Of
cake, to be distributed among the
acquaintance in announcing the ems
gagement. The marriage must be
concluded within a year from this
interchange of gifts. On the eve Of
the wedding day there is another i'm
pOrtant transfer of goodS-namely,
the brides portion, which consists Of
her outfit, plate, and furniture; for
dover, in the sense of money, there is
none. The bridegroom's family gives
a state dinner, at which these objects
are exhibited, and on the same even
ing he sends the bride sedan-chair,
trlmmed with crimson satin and en-
broidery. The chair is accompanied
by q procession of musicians and SER
wants with lanterns and torches,
red umbrella, q green screen, and
other insignia of rank. Her family
also gives a gtand dinner party for
the reception and display of the chair,
during which the guests are RECALLED
by the music of the band. The next
day four persons belonging to the
family or friends of the bridegroom go
to the brides house and invite her to
repair to that of her failure husband.
She goes in her sedan-chair, with four
or eight bearers, according to MS
rank, and small escort, and her ar
rival is announced by an explosion of
fireworks. The char is deposited in
q saloon, where the family, friends,
bridesmaids, and gr0omsmen are as
sembled. One of the last,-the best
man, no doubt, --bearing a metallic
mirror before his breast, advances to
Ehe sedan, chair, bows thrice, and q
bridesmaid raises the curtains and
begs the bride to descend. She ac~
cedes, still wearing her veil, and is
conducted to an inner room; there the
bridegroom, ia his wedding dress, re-
vceiveS her, aud this is their first sight
OF each other. They are formally
reconducted to the first apartment;
music is playing, and table has been
laid with wine, fruits, and perfumes
burning, to symbolic an altar. The
pair PROSTATE themselves and thank
the Supreme Being for their creation,
the earth for their nouriShment, the
emperor for his protection, and their
parents for their education. There Is
no minister of religion or civil funct>
ionary present. The bridegroom then
introduces his bride to the company,
and banquet follows, during which
the music, which las not ceased dur
ing the orison, continues to play.
Throughout the evening the house is
thrown open, and anyone can enter
and see the bride, who remains stand
ing behind a table on which there are
lighted candles. On the morrow the
bride takes her husband to present
him TO her family, and the formalities
Of the previous evening are partially
repeated, which completes the mar
riage ceremonies.
Divorce is legal IN China and was
in force there several centuries before
our era, but it is not in favor. When
a husband surprises his wife with a
lover the law permits him to kill her,
which removes one cause of separation
from the jurisdiction of the courts.
Sterility, after fixed age, is plea
admitted by law, and gross disrespect
or disobe6ience on the part OF husband
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