How to write an ancient Chinese marriage contract

Example of the format and content of the ancient marriage contract a

We wish to comply with the order of the Kun, choose the period of marriage

1, the line of marriage favorable month is hereby selected in XXX year XX month XX day, all auspicious.

2, marrying and sending men and women guests, avoiding X phase, Daji

3, on and off the car sedan chair, facing the X side to welcome the god of joy, Daji.

4, An Lodge sitting tent, X house X room.

5, the crown to face the X side of the welcome to the god of fortune, good luck. Sitting tent facing X to welcome the god of good fortune, good luck.

6, the road meets wells, stones, temples, with flowers and red cover, good luck. Heaven and earth dense, salty constant celebration, gold and jade, long life and wealth.

XXX year XX month XX? "Send good" is not only to send a good day to marry, but also to send the bride price to the woman. Bride price generally include red shirt, blue jacket, ring, pendant, belt, etc., wrapped in a red bag, inserted on the cypress branch, to take the meaning of "long life".

Linqing called "check the day", the groom to determine the date of marriage should be formally notified of the bride's home, attached to the "welcome post" (commonly known as "on the head post"), on the book! Bride's clothing, open face, grooming, up and down the direction of the sedan chair, the hour and other matters.

Expanded

The earliest folk wedding book originated in the Tang Dynasty wedding book in the early years for handwritten, mostly with red paper and ink, which includes a proposal post, engagement and marriage list, written on the birthdays of men and women, the introducer, the principal, the betrothed, the marriage, and the name of grandparents and even the name of the great-grandparents and so on.

After 1912, the wedding book more than ink printing, the texture of the wedding book in addition to rice paper, there are hardback, silk, burlap and so on, and some also coated with gold dust. Painted decoration appeared in the dragon and phoenix, mandarin ducks playing in the water and other auspicious motifs.

Some of them were also affixed with stamp duty stamps which are nowadays of great value. Especially after the promulgation of the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China*** and the State of China on April 30, 1950, which abolished arranged marriages, the relevant clauses of the Marriage Law appeared in the marriage certificates of the period, and the names of the bride and groom were for the first time listed side by side.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Wedding Book