Page 391 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

WEDDING CUSTOMS.

it is said that their feet have been tied The Chinese
together.
seem to be firm believers in the sentiments that Fate or Heaven
decides who are to become husband and wife, and that the
act of parents in engaging their children is an exponent of
the will of Heaven or the decrees of Fate, corresponding to
the western ' that matches are made in heaven.' Some
saying,
say that these threads are kept professedly for the purpose of
tying together the goblets out of which the bride and bride-
groom drink wine on the day of their marriage. Sometimes
they are actually thus used on that occasion. More frequently,
however, a new red cord or string is then used, and the old
cords taken and into the cue of the or worked
put bridegroom,
into the shoes worn by the bride on the day of their marriage,
as omens of good. The use of the large needles in betrothing
parties is also auspicious. According to some, they serve to
' asked what is the use of
draw the thread It is
along.' sagely
"
a thread unless there is a needle by which to use it ? The
engagement may run for a month or two, or for years, accord-
ing to the age of the parties. The wedding-day is fixed by
the fortune-teller, as also the dates of the various ceremonies
that have to be About a month before the
gone through.
"
wedding the bridegroom presents the cakes of ceremony,"
with other to the means of his and
presents, according family,
these are sometimes paraded through the streets so as to be
seen by everybody. Two or three days before the wedding, the
bride's send a card
family stating what furniture will be sent,
and the money for the porters bringing it has to be ready at
the time fixed, enclosed in red or tied red
paper by string.
Chinese coins, having a cut out of the centre, are carried
square
in the before the the bride has
strings. Usually day wedding,
her hair done up in the style of married women of her class
in society, female friends being invited to a feast to inspect
the bride's outfit. On the day of the wedding the bridegroom
between five and in
sends a sedan for his bride, usually
eight
the in which, thickly veiled, she to her
morning, is conveyed
future home. About the and the
half-way procession stops,
important ceremony of receiving the bride is transacted ; cards
are again exchanged, and the bride's relations return home.
the
On arrival after various ceremonies (see p. 47) bride is
lifted out of the sedan, in some over a of
places pan burning
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