Matchmaking in China

In old China the conclusion of reject lasted very for a long time, since it was accompanied by the very elaborate complex of rites. Specifically, they reflected the important aspects of people culture and public life of Chinese. First stage of Chinese wedding ritual - matchmaking. Matchmaking affects the prestige of families. It was the very important matter, which without fail made demands on mediators. Match-makers in China they named "man of ice". In the cities there were professional matchmakers, while in the villages to this role they invited men from the local residents. In South China this role was removed to woman. Did begin everything from the fact that the family of fiance did send to the family of the assumed bride so-called TAO -" Central Aerological Observatory" those bonds "note" or card with the indication "8 of the hieroglyphs of life", in which communicated the surname of fiance, and so year, month, day and the hour of his generation. According to these data did guess the family of bride and if the outcome of guess-work was favorable, here did send the information about the date of the generation of "bride" to the family of fiance. The family of fiance also turned to fortune teller, which confirmed or denied the favorable result of the outlined marriage. But the matter was not limited only to turnings to fortune teller. Each family in the course of three days they held on the family altar card. If at this time did occur what - either incident or misfortune - for example, someone of the family fell ill, the matchmaking could be immediately ended.

According to the traditional Chinese ideas, all rejects consisted before the skies by lunar old man, and not to meet its that narrowed it was impossible. If matchmaking was successful, the family of fiance did send to the bride of adornment other gifts, which in the common parlance were called by "small agreement". After this, the families of fiance and bride exchanged the marriage guarantees, which were written on the paper of the red color (this color it was considered happy). However, for the youth the letter was decorated with the images of dragon, letter for the girl by phoenix. In these guarantees the detailed information about the future newlyweds and their families communicated. They indicated the sum of the ransom introduced for the bride. It is called "tea gift" (tea in China the symbol of fertility and conjugal faithfulness). They served as gifts for the bride: the pair of shackles, two or four bracelets, the cuts of material of red color, gold coins and other different precious things. Were sent also special red boxes into which they placed the provisions: selected fig, different types of tea, the salt, fault and so forth the family of bride assumed all sent to it treasures and adornments, but by products it sent away conversely about half of gifts. This argued by the fact that the determination of the periods of wedding required, as a rule, several visits of match-makers to both sides. Families of both sides concluded also marriage contract, this served as occasion for the first encounter of the parents of fiance and bride. The parents of fiance, after arriving to the encounter, did first accomplish worship before the family altar (they were advanced the figure of "hare of happiness" or "ruby of happiness"). Then masters and guests participated in the ceremonial meal, during which everything they drank the cup of "vine of long life". Fiance obtained into the gift to vapor of the peas, which he, after returning home, placed into the water, and then it ate, which, as they believed, contributed to the appearance of posterity.