Marriage Customs: China vs. USA
[Abstract] There exist many differences between American and Chine Wedding customs. Meanwhile there are some things in common between them and they are integrating continually in contemporary society.
[Key Words] marriage custom; differences; common; integration
For a person, Marriage is the combination of two persons. But for the whole society, it reflects the social thoughts, ethics and cultures of a certain period. Marriage is not only the important content of contemporaries, but also our rich cultural heritage and another clue of our modern life. After the reform and opening up of china, American and Chine culture are integrated increasingly though their constant impact. And they are drawing with each other. 西周都城Analyzing and discussing the life event will help us better understand the similarities and differences between Chine and American cultures and make 自强的故事cross-cultural communication more smoothly.家装设计说明云边有个小卖部读后感 系统垃圾清理
There exist many differences between American and Chine wedding customs. Meanwhile there are some things in common between them and they are integrating continually in contemporary society. Becau of that, the most direct and effective way to understand the cultural similarities and differences between the two countries is to focus on their traditional marriage customs.
China and USA belong to different cultures and ideologies, so the difference is obvious.
Americans emphasize the feelings about their marriage: unrestrained contact, choosing a spou freely and free love. Generally, love between men and women do not need matchmakers, and their parents rarely intervened. Emphasis on xual love is their concept of love展望五国. They believe that they don’t need to know too much about each other. Becau beautiful appearance, strong body, xy temptation are sufficient to constitute the basis of feelings.
But Chine are relatively conrvative and old-fashioned. This is becau of the feudal ethics of two thousand years. In ancient China, people have to comply with feudal patriar
chate and the feudal ethics. In ancient china "men and women are not allowed to get clo to each other” is very popular. The feudal ruling class and vigorously promote "women shall never step out of the hou". They emphasize the virgin character strongly. So many girls are always "kept in boudoirs and not known by anyone el". The marriage between men and women should abide by "no matchmaking no marriage". Naturally, “to get married in compliance with the ideas of the parents and the matchmakers” is the main symbol of legal marriages. Marriage without matchmakers will be consider illegal and not be recognized by society. In the ancient times, it is general that the man requests a matchmaker to propo to the woman’s family. Under the same conditions, it is not appropriate that the woman propo to the man’s family.
However, on the traditional marriage ceremony, marriage customs in the United States is not simple than that in China. There is some complicated etiquette in Chine traditional marriage customs, such as the "three books and six rites". The so-called “three books “refers to Letters of appointment, Gift books and The bridal books. The “six rites " refers to Offering prents ,Asking names, Divining an auspicious wedding day, Sending trouss
eau, Suggestion of a date for the wedding and Welcoming the bride. In Chine, they are called Na Cai, Wen Ming, Na Ji, Na Zheng, Qing Qi, Ying Qin.
When everything is ready, the wedding will go to the climax of the wedding - to welcome the bride. The most typical tool is dan. In Chine, it is called “ba tai da jiao”. It will be carried by four people or eight people. At that time, the dan will follow a band, which beats drums and blows trumpets all the way. It makes the scene lively very much. The purpo of this behavior is to make the people of the neighboring villages aware of the marriage. Only in this way, the wedding can be considered as formal marriage.
After the bride get home, there is a very important ceremony. In Chine, it is called “Bai Tang”. Only after that, the newly-wed can be recognized as a husband and wife and the marriage can be established. “Bai Tang” is also called “Bai Tian Di”. This is a Chine ethics which reflects the great significance of etiquette system at that time.
From this we can know Chine culture is complicated. But it is not Chine peculiar characteristics of weddings. In fact, different countries have different marriage customs. B
ut from the complicated details and the figurative meaning of the wedding supplies, we can e that there is no national boundary on people’s respect and expectations for marriage.
In the west，the wedding highlights four features. They are new, old, borrowed, and blue. The so-called "new" refers to the bride will wear a new white dress to show the beginning of a new life; "old" refers to the bride's white veil must be the old (typically ud when her mother married) to show she will not forget the kindness of her parents; "borrowed" refers to the bride's handkerchief is borrowed from her girlfriends. This shows she will never forget friendship; "blue" refers to the bride wears the blue ribbon. This means she has won the sincere love.
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