China travel - Hangzhou Xixi Wetland Folkways And Custom
Article by Shane Lee
Wedding on Boat:The local Xixi wedding customs are quite unique because this area, from ancient time, is a dense river network and one cannot reach the other side without a boat. In the past, a brideggroom used a "boat seddan" to carry his bride. The seddan chair was put in the front cabin to the bride's house by boat. Next, it was taken out to receive the bride and put back to the boat. Then the sedan was taken to the bridegroom's home and carried to the front hall directly with the bride. After that, it was the wedding ceremony and their nuptial chamber night. It differs a lot from today's wedding in relatives' dressing, wedding procedures, chamber night etiquettes, honeymoon room decoration and other customs.
The Bride Getting on the Sedan Chair:Accompanied by the matchmaker, the bride got onto the seden chair. While the matchmaker lifted up the sedan chair curtain, the bride stepped into the bridal sedan chair. This step means leaving her accustomed own family and becoming a daughter-in-law of another family. Other than shyness of a young gril, the bride probably also felt fidgety. However, she could not carelessly breath her etiquette. Thus, she needed to make an effort to appear composed and poised.
The Father and Brothers Escorting the Bride:Leaving home, the bridal sedan chair was put on the boat. There were two trumpeters on the boat sedan and one person rowed the boat. While the trumpets made noises on the way, the bride was alo thinking: as she started to become a wife, everything at her husband's house was different from that in her own home. How should she do?There was another boat called bride escorting boat for the bride's father and brothers to escort the bride to get married. Maybe the father was thinking whether his daughter would be bullied while the brothers were worried that this little sister should no longer be that naughty as she usually was at home. There was also a porter who carried the Bucket of Descendants and another person who rowed the boat.
Tast! ing the Tea and Listening to Storytelling:Arrived in the bridegroom's house which was full of guests, everyone talked loudly and appeared cheerful. The family of the bridegroom invited a folk storyteller to tell some unofficial histories or stories spread among the folks. Not sure whether he told the story of Lin Chong Running at Night or People Dating under the Sunset at West Chamber, the guests drank teas and listened in high spirits, almost putting themselves into the story.
The Couple Making Ceremonial Obeisance:When it was the auspicious moment, the wedding ceremony officiator announced the bridegroom and the bride to make ceremonial obeisance to get married. While the matchmaker supported the bride with the hands, the bridegroom and the bride held a flowery ball together, and do obeisance to two Fairies Harmony and Reunion three times to pray for safety, harmony and a happy life ever after between the couple. When the ceremonial obeisance was finished, they were sent to the bridal chamber. While the guests were toating one another at the banquet, were they plotting to banter the newlyweds in bridal chamber later taking the advantage of alcohol.
Inside the Great Wall of China: Facts part 5
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