New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
MARRIAGES IN CHINA.
THE PRESENCE OF TIE GROOM UNNEcEssARf-
REASONS FOR DIVORCE.

THE PRESENCE OF TIE GROOM UNNE' r"'""-
REASONS FOR DIVORCE.
Love and romance play little part III t,e !,
OF China, according to the "o''@''"' ..ar
The Chnaman who enters the harbor OF ha'r''n'"s
,o, mo, tho m,t,or nc n fnlllncnt OF duty winch
he owes to his ancestors. ,
"The custom OF the Chinese continues t''o 'o'
to marry off their and dauehters ~ oil e.' 90
does not seem advisable to the Europeans 1. = CIV
the rule in China that unions only taHe Pih0o o''
families OF equal social and financial staho''s ~
,ecard OF this rule would cause subsequent ""uo,'
invariably The custom of early. marriages IL iou,.e
moreover on principles incomprchensibe TO the West
ern mind The boy and girl Joined In wedoch w 'io
form a new family, but rather the Youngest n'
the family tree, upon which they are "cn'oi
pcndent. The duty Of parents toward 1her eoi,'
not end with their MARRIAGE they are opnsou " 90
for them after that time also There Is eroa. u'
vantage In this system The son, being uhuor ''o 0'
~ the parents rs long ms they alive, really no'e
,coues ipdopendent All members OF family nVe
when po;sibe under one roof and even after inc oea
~ the parents the sons continue as rule, 10 h'S
together I'm the family home When the ia'her e,''
the oldest brother his place As tine heau VI
family and when tho mother dies the vile OF t'io "
brother takes her place. But, again, the sSs'e"' '
many advantages As the girls are married very soue'
they are unacquanted rule with the ouue' ~,
housewife But in entering the househoids Oh 'h1,
f,thersin-Iaw the learn the needl lessons IN iany
economy
1T IS nothing rare,' adds the paper, "for boys
twelve TO fourteen years old to marry. lie ph'H."
moral and intellectual development OF the
partles has nothing whatever to do with the matter
other considerations entirely regulate the aiInir' ~"
old Chinese aphorsm says that the great business VI
life is ended when the sons and daughters are mareu
The Chinese parents do not care to run the dasor Vi
postponng the marriage OF their chdref eSPcciaS VI
their sons until after their own death.
a." Chinese engagement dates Its bes ming from inc
exchange Of red cards between the par9 ns OF inc coh
tracing parties These cards in many districts ara
Immense documents almost the size OF horse DlahRet
Ihey are important for the that they are seo
n evidence I'm case OF dlsageements In the futuT'
We seldom hear I'm China OF broken engagements. ieI
If q quarrel cannot be settled peacefully recourse Is
had to the law and the Judge usually impoSc' :" INV
upon the party who has broken ,e coh, ar,ooe l. tie
arrival Of the bride in her bridal eio tlso Sme e
~ h ' n,rcnt. NJ the groom The Imperial calendar
tho luck, days ana on suGh Gs The cities and
country The same bridal clothes may be used seVerii
times, In districts where IL Is customary 10 ceooa h
Tho weddings In the forenoon the weddings Oh tie
cOwives take placc in the afternoon or III thc c'e'
The Chinese thus hope to mako them less importan,;
- ,hc eb b nj The house Of the groom Illustrated
again by the TACT that the sons arc often married VIII.
believed 10 be fortunate to change the wedding dsy
wien once decided. II the future husband. tnereor,
happens 10 be called away on the wedding Gay tno
marriage takes place by sending the bride to his house.
Chinese law recognizes seven grounds TOT div0rc
from woman childlessness improper conduct, nceiet'
~ the parent, Of the husband. tendency 10 steai,
lealousy and incuiuble disease natural consequences
Of the Importance attached in China 70 maze ne,s 81. Is
that whcr, they are absent the husband marres CO
wife This. however, Is not general and is limited 70
families OF wealth. The bad results OF the system are
recognized by the Chinese themselves. The pracucai
Chinese therefore have adopted more simple way OF
obtaining heirthe adoption OF children VINO beiChg ~
limo il kept intact. In the absence Of male descend
ants in the side branches OF the family me sons o,
tranr"rs ar adopted The Chinese prefer this method
In marrying second wives"