What are the ancient "Three Books and Six Rites"?

The Three Books and Six Rites are traditional Chinese marriage customs and etiquette.

1, "three books" is the process of marriage used in the documents, respectively refers to:

Book of Hire: that is, the instrument of engagement. In the Naji (men and women to enter into marriage), the male family handed over to the female family of the book invitation.

Rituals: the documents used in the ceremony, listing the items and quantities of the ceremony.

Welcome book: that is, to welcome the bride's paperwork. Is the pro meet the bride over the door, the male party to the female party's paperwork.

2, "six rituals" is the marriage process of the six rituals, respectively:

Na Cai: that is, the male family asked the matchmaker to go to the woman's home to propose marriage, the woman's home agreed to discuss the marriage, the male family to prepare rituals to go to the marriage proposal.

Ask for the name: the man's family asked the matchmaker to ask for the woman's name and date of birth.

Naji: the man's family takes the woman's name and birthdate and then divines it at the ancestral temple. After getting an auspicious omen, he prepares a gift and informs the woman's family of his decision to enter into marriage.

Na Zheng: also known as Na Cai (纳幣), this is when the man's family gives the woman's family a bride price.

Requesting a date: the man's family chooses a date for the marriage and prepares a gift to inform the woman's family to seek her consent.

Welcome: the groom goes to the woman's home to welcome her.

Expanded Information:

The process of marriage in ancient times was a little bit different from the modern meaning. While the modern marriage process generally refers to the rituals performed on the day of the marriage, the marriage process of the Three Books and Six Rites includes the paperwork and rituals of the process, from the negotiation of the marriage, to the engagement, to the marriage.

Similar to modern times, the entire traditional marriage customs and rituals notify the relatives and neighbors in order to gain social recognition and security. In addition to that, traditional marriage rituals and ceremonies enable the married couple to obtain the approval of their ancestors and spirits and to assume the fulfillment of their rights and obligations to their parents and relatives.

Thus, in some ancient times, a marriage was not recognized as a proper marriage unless a man and a woman had completed the three books and six rituals; the completeness of the marriage rituals directly affected the auspiciousness of the marriage. However, marriage customs and etiquette varied in different Chinese dynasties.

Baidu Encyclopedia - The Three Books and Six Rites