The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-10-16
Chapman 6 Briggs, Agts.
HOW THEY MARRY IN CHINA,
Wedding customh which Appear
Very Ridiculous Ia the Eyes
OF Christians.


The marriage Of the upper classes
In China Is surrounded by a number
of very elaborate ceremonies, though
those Of humber station content
themselves with more primitive rites,
says the London Express.
Among the classes supposed to be
better off a great feast is one of the
most important items of the days
proceedings. This. which nswer to
the wedding breakfast, is spread on
tables at the east and west of the
dining-hall. But, curiously enough,
neither bride nor bridegroom is per-
mitted to taste of the delicacies there
on displayed. Instead, a meal for the
"happy man" is spread in the court
yard. Before the ceremony he makes
obeisance to his father and the we'd
ding guests, kneeling down and
knocking his head six times against
the ground. The father hands him
a goblet of wine and tells him to
send for his bride.
The formula in the bidding never
alters. 1t is in the following words:
go, my son, and seek your wife, and
behave in all things with prudence
and wisdom" The 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 warnings.
A ~profusion of gliding is always one
of its most characteristic features.
A large procession, including a band
of music, is always sent as escort to
the blushing bride. Gay lanterns and
banners, torches, umbrellas and fans
are always carried in the procession,
not to mention various emblems APP
propriate to the occasion. Thus a
tiny orange tree, well loaded with
golden fruit, is taken along as a sym
Dol of a large family. A goose and a
gander are emblematical Of conjugal
fidelity, while a dolphin means world
ly prosperity and a high position.
The color Of all the paraphernalia is
red-the hue of rejoicing. Red fans,
red lanterns, red umbrellas, together
with the red-painted palanquin and
the red costumes of the attendants,
make a bright splash Of color. And
with the musicians blowing and
thumpingt their hardest, gongs beating,
torches spluttering and faring and
lanterns cleaning a Chinese wedding
procession appeals powerfully alike
to eye and ear.
It is etiquette for everybody to
make way for the cortege, and China's
penal code provides a severe punish
ment for anybody neglecting to do so.
Before the bride sets forth on her
journey to her new abode, whittier
she is hidden by a few lines written
on red paper, and presented by the
friend Of the bridegroom-answering
to the English "best man"-she does
kow-tow to her father and mother,
drinks a last cup OF wine and, kneel.
ing, listens to 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, oc-
cupy some time, meanwhile the poor
little bride, on her knees, listens with
what patience she may command.
Ere stepping into the palanquin she
wells herself in silk of the orthodox
shade Of red, then the return process
sion starts.
Arrived at the house. a curious cere-
mony takes place, the bride being
presented with a tray containing rice
and betel nuts. She must prostratc
herself at the feet Of her future hus-
band, to denote her complete submits
sion 10 his will. Then the girl un-
wells, and for the first time the bride
groom sees his brides face.
Ancestor worship and the alteration
OF the heavens and the earth are ess
sential parts of a Chinese marriage
ceremony, though the formal adore
ton Of the ancestral tablets does not
take place till the third day after the
wedding. The bride at the wedding
feast must PROSTATE herself before
her parents-in-law, to whom she gives
wine. The mother-in-law in her turn
presents the bride with a cup Of wine.
Three days after marriage a grand
visit Of ceremony is paid to the wife's
parents, Servants laden with pres
ents accompany the newly welded