On Differences Between Chinese And Western Marriage Customs
On Differences between Chinese and Western Marriage Customs
Abstract： As it is known， there exist many distinctions between Chinese and Western marriage customs. This paper is to discover the different customs between Chinese and Western marriage and analyze the reasons for the distinctions. Key words： marriage customs； culture； difference； tradition 1. Introduction In almost each culture people have the custom of holding weddings. Marriage customs in different countries and nations contain their own cultural and national features. Marriage customs in China are quite distinct from those in English-speaking countries in the west. This paper aims at the differences between Chinese marriage and Western marriage customs by contrasting their traditional marriage and tries to explore the reasons causing the differences. 2. The differences between Chinese and western marriage customs 2.1 the difference in procedures China is a vast country with various marriage customs in different areas. But in general Chinese people follow six procedures in traditional marriage， namely， proposing， asking the name， asking for fortune， sending betrothal present to girl’s family， discussing date of marriage and meeting the bride. Compared with Chinese marriage， Western marriage is simpler and there are a few standard customs acknowledged as being traditional： proposal， engagement， choosing the day and holding the wedding. 2.2 the difference in dressing In China， the groom is traditionally dressed in a long gown， red shoes and red silk sash with a red silk ball in the shape of flower on his chest. The bride is also in red with her head covered in red veil. The white wedding gown is the most popular dressing among western people. However， this was a tradition until Queen Victoria （1840） in her long white wedding dress impressed the westerners. 2.3 the difference in marriage media In ancient China， matchmaker was essential because marriage without matchmaker
Abstract： As it is known， there exist many distinctions between Chinese and Western marriage customs. This paper is to discover the different customs between Chinese and Western marriage and analyze the reasons for the distinctions. Key words： marriage customs； culture； difference； tradition 1. Introduction In almost each culture people have the custom of holding weddings. Marriage customs in different countries and nations contain their own cultural and national features. Marriage customs in China are quite distinct from those in English-speaking countries in the west. This paper aims at the differences between Chinese marriage and Western marriage customs by contrasting their traditional marriage and tries to explore the reasons causing the differences. 2. The differences between Chinese and western marriage customs 2.1 the difference in procedures China is a vast country with various marriage customs in different areas. But in general Chinese people follow six procedures in traditional marriage， namely， proposing， asking the name， asking for fortune， sending betrothal present to girl’s family， discussing date of marriage and meeting the bride. Compared with Chinese marriage， Western marriage is simpler and there are a few standard customs acknowledged as being traditional： proposal， engagement， choosing the day and holding the wedding. 2.2 the difference in dressing In China， the groom is traditionally dressed in a long gown， red shoes and red silk sash with a red silk ball in the shape of flower on his chest. The bride is also in red with her head covered in red veil. The white wedding gown is the most popular dressing among western people. However， this was a tradition until Queen Victoria （1840） in her long white wedding dress impressed the westerners. 2.3 the difference in marriage media In ancient China， matchmaker was essential because marriage without matchmaker
References: [1]陈仲利.中英文化对比[J ].北京：科学出版社，2010. [2]程裕祯.中国文化要略[J ].北京：外语教学与研究出版社，2010. [3]席晓.浅谈中西方婚礼文化异同[M].读与写杂志，2008（8）. [4]韩芳.中西传统婚俗之比较[M].中国校外教育，2008（8）. [5]胡文仲，毕继万.跨文化非言语交际[J].北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1999.