The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-02-26
Notes on NJ. Tour !!!!!' 9! Of World
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Marriage in the Middle Kingdom.
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Marriage in the Middle Kingdom.
In this land, as in every other ter
restrial quarter, they marry and arc
given in marriage. "Sold" would per
haps be the better word, indicating
the compulsory betrothal for financia!
consideration which is one of China's
blights upon girlhood. Some prov
inces have granted suffrage to quail
flied women, so that after while leg
islation may bring relief to such do
nestle conditions. But law has hard
task when it seeks to change Gus
tom hoary with age.
The supreme object for which a
female baby is born-so teach the
sages of the Middle Lands that she
may be married and become the
mother of sons. The dark-eyed little
creature has this so deeply impressed
upon her mind by her Confucian par
ents that it is seldom girl enters
a protest against being affianced to
Whomsoever they choose. AS rule,
she is not consulted on the subject,
and frequently knows nothing of the
matter until the betrothal is cOnsum-
mated. Then it is too late to object,
for, with the Chinese, engagement
is as sacred as marriage. So true
is this, that when her intended dies,
the girl is expected to leave the house
of her father and spend her life in
the home of the parents of the dead.
If she is a true Confucianist she will
never marry.
Sometimes, facing an unhappy flu
ture, Chinese girls commit suicide. 1t
is recorded that at one time, fifteen
met and resolved upon self-destruc-
ton. They flung themselves into a
tributary stream of the Canton river.
The place where the corpses were
inferred is called the "Tombs of the
Virgins
Chinese parents take many things
into their reckoning as they consider
the selection of mate for their son.
Maybe this fact leads them to make
early choice and thus relieve their
minds of a weighty problem. We
POLITICALLY attribute to the birthday a
talismanic influence by our rhyme:
Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Etc.
The Chinese are serious in such
contemplation. Perhaps a boy is born
in a year of the cycle Hare" and a
girl of the cycle Dog" Then GER
calmly her influence would be fatal
to him, since hares are destroyed by
dogs Such combination might even
cause a boys sister to be given away.
In beginning the matrimonial bar
gain a "go between" is used. He is
paid for his services-which may
prove suggestion to match-makers
in our land. He is employed first by
the family of the young man; but,
after the Introductory steps, if things
are favorable, the girls parents en-
ploy him also. This factotum receives
from the young mans father two large
red cards, united together much like
the back of book. On the outside
of one is the image of a golden dra-
gon and on the inside is written the
name of the young man, the year, day,
and hour of his birth. On the outside
of the other is gilt figure of the
sacred phoenix. These are the con-
tracing cards. If the respective
horoscopes are harmonious, the deal
is made. When the money has been
paid the two cards are torn apart.
The one with dragon is kept by
the girls family, while the one with a
phoenix is sent back to the young
mans people. Presents are exchanged
in honor of the event. A few days
before the wedding, the grOOm's faith.
er sends various kinds of food, among
which are wild goose and gander.
The latter is retained and the former
returned. The Chinese say that these
fowls mate but once and hence are
emblems of a happy marriage. There