The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-19
HOW THEY MARRY IN CHINA
Customs Which Appear Very Ridicu-
lous In Our Eyes.
Oondon Express.

The marriage of the upper classes in
China is surrounded by a number of very
elaborate ceremonies, though those of
number station content themselves with
more primitive rites
Among the classes supposed to be better
on great feast is one of the most i'm
portant items of the days proceedings
ms, which answers to the wedding
breakfast, is spread on tables at the east
and west Of the dining hall But. curl
Dusty enough, neither bride nor bride
groom IS permitted to taste of the deli
eacieS thereon displayed. Instead a meal
for the happy man. is spread in the
courtyard. Before the ceremony he makes
Obelsance to his father and the wedding
guests, kneeling down and knocking his
nead SIX times against the ground. The
rather hands him a goblet of wine and
tells him 10 send for his bride.
Inc formula in the bidding never al
Lers, II Is IN the following words: Go,
my son, and seek your wife, and behave
IN all things with prudence and wisdom"
Inc sedan chair, or palanquin, which is
dispatched for the reception of the bride.
IS invariably painted red. and is often
richly adorned with paintings and cary
ings- A profusion of gliding is always
one of its most characteristic features. A
large procession, including band of mu-
SIC, IS always sent as escort to the blush
ing bride Gay lanterns and banners
torches, umbrellas and fans always car
rled In the procession, not to mention
various emblems appropriate 10 the Oc-
caslon- Thus a tiny orange tree, well
loaded with golden fruit. is taken along
as an emblem of a large family. A goose
and gander are emblematical of cOnjugal
Ildenty, while a dolphin means worldly
prosperity and high position The color
OF all the paraphernalia is red-the hue of
rejoicing. Red fans. red lanterns red
umbrellas, together with the red-Dainted
palanquin and the red costumes of the
attendants, make a bright splash of color.
And with the musicians blowing and
humping their hardest, gongs beating
torches spluttering and flaring and Ian
terms cleaning, a Chinese wedding pro-
cession appeals powerfully alike to eve
and ear.
1t is etiquette for everybody to make
way for the cortege, and China's penal
code provides a severe punishment for
ANYBODY neglecting to do so
Before the bride sets forth on ler jour
ney TO her new abode, whittier she is bid
den by few lines written on red paper
and presented by the friend of the bride
groom-ansWering to the English best
man'-she does kOw-tow to her father
and mother, drinks a last Gun of wine
and, kneeling, listens 10 harangueS from
her parents on the new state of life into
which she is now entering. and her duties
therein. These OratiOnS. in the best STYLE
OF Chinese elOquence. occupy some time
meanwhile the poor little bride. on her
knees. listens with what patience she may
command. Ere stepping into the Dalan-
duin she wells herself in silk of the or
thOdox shade of red, then the return pro-
cessiOn starts
Arrived at the house. a curious cere-
mony takes place. the bride being pre-
scented with tray containing rice and
betel nuts She must PROSTATE herself
at the feet of her future husband to de-
note her complete submission to his will
Then the girl unveils. and for the first
time the bridegroom sees his brides face
Ancestor worship and the alteration of
the heavens and the earth are essential
parts of a Chinese marriage ceremony
though the formal alteration of the anceS-
trail tablets does not take place till the
third day after the wedding. The bride
at the wedding feast must PROSTATE her
self before her Darents-in-law. to whom
she gives wine. Three days after the mar
riage grand visit of ceremony is paid to
the wife's parents. Servants laden with
presents accompany the newly welded
pair