What is the impact of the formal elements of the ancient Chinese marriage system on the present day

The "six rites" is the marriage rituals in ancient China, which first appeared in "Rites of Passage". Shihuangli", that is, the establishment of the marriage relationship must strictly follow the six ceremonial procedures, in order for the Nacai (the man asked the matchmaker to bring gifts to the woman's home to propose marriage); ask the name (the woman's parents agreed to discuss the marriage, the man asked the matchmaker to ask for the woman's birthdate, name, identity, and divining in the clan temple to determine whether it is suitable for the marriage); Naji (divining auspicious omen, the man's family is ready to prepare a gift to notify the woman's family to decide to conclude the marriage); Najing (also known as the Nacai, Najing money, the man sent a person to inform the woman decided to enter into marriage); Najing (also called Naji (also known as Na Ci, Naju Cai, the man sends the bride price to the woman's family to formalize the marriage, and the marriage begins to be protected by the Rites and Laws); Invitation (the man's family invites the woman's family to choose the date of the marriage); and Kindly welcome (the man goes to the woman's family to welcome her in person). These "six rites" were established in the Zhou Dynasty, and most of the subsequent dynasties followed the Zhou Rites, but the names and contents of the six rites were changed in each generation, and most of them were simplified and abridged.

Transmitted to the Tang Dynasty, due to the social climate of enlightenment, social concept of openness, but also by the influence of minority marriage customs, so that the Tang Dynasty rituals and customs have distinctive features. For example: divorce is more free; the status of women is higher; the form of marriage is free; the combination of rites and laws, and so on. Tang Dynasty wedding ceremony, inherited the ancient tradition of "six rites", but also according to the needs of social reality has changed. Na Cai, here Na Cai should be the ancient six rites of Na Cai, Na Ji, Na Zheng three programs into one. Ask for clarification, that is, through the marriage book. Naji, mainly to determine whether the two parties' birthdays and eight characters are compatible. Najing, that is, the bride price please period, choose a good day to get married. Ming and Qing Dynasty, the evolution of the six rituals, gradually tending to decline, the late Qing Dynasty wedding customs are in the "six rituals" on the basis of the evolution of the broadly proposed marriage, betrothal, marriage, back to the door and so on several stages. The inheritance of the "six rites" varied from place to place. So far in some rural areas of China still exist in the shadow of the "six rites", but also some changes.