What are the ancient marriage documents like and what role did they play in the ancient marriage?

Marriage between men and women has always been second to none in China? A lifelong event? Marriage is a major change in the role of life for everyone, and it also means a person's real maturity. China people pay attention to marriage? Parents' orders, matchmaker's words? In such a traditional marriage, a marriage certificate has also become an indispensable part of ancient marriage etiquette. When a man and a woman enter into marriage, a thin marriage certificate is an indispensable proof of marriage, which represents the establishment of this marriage and reflects the ancient marriage ceremony. People can also learn about the present situation of ancient marriage and many aspects of marriage culture, concepts and systems through marriage certificates.

The embryonic stage of marriage book

In Ci Hai, the definition of marriage certificate is:? Marriage agreement, old marriage certificate? ; The Law Dictionary also lists many other nicknames for marriage books, such as? Engagement card? 、? Dragon and phoenix post? 、? Engagement? Various names; As for the concept of ordinary people, when it comes to engagement, the first thing that comes to mind is the marriage contract documents voluntarily signed by men and women. This kind of document is usually called engagement letter and intermarriage letter.

In fact, these are narrow definitions of marriage documents. In the traditional society of China, the marriage documents used to prove the marriage relationship between men and women and to embody the marriage contract and Confucian etiquette are very extensive. People's traditional engagement documents, divorce documents, and special marriage documents under the background of special times, such as marriage documents such as Yoko Zhao and concubinage, are all part of ancient marriage documents. Because of the large scope of ancient marriage documents, this paper will take the marriage documents as an example to lead readers to recall the evolution and unique forms of ancient marriage documents.

The embryonic state of ancient marriage documents in China can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty. According to Zhou Li, in the Zhou Dynasty, there appeared a person who was responsible for managing the marriage between men and women and issuing marriage certificates. They were called? Media? . Marriage in this period is written on bamboo slips. After the men and women are engaged, the two sides hold half, which is awarded by the media. If men and women privately decide not to report for life, their marriage relationship will not be established. Because the engagement letter was still in its infancy in the Zhou Dynasty, the marriage system in this period paid more attention to marriage customs. The Book of Rites records six legal procedures for marriage: naming, asking for names, naming, recruiting, inviting Japan and welcoming relatives. Strict? Six gifts? The marriage procedure has a far-reaching influence on the engagement and marriage procedure of China people.

Although the engagement letter was also developed in the Qin dynasty, it was due to? Burning books and burying Confucianism? The occurrence of this incident led to the burning of many books related to the marriage system in the pre-Qin time zone, leaving only rituals? The Scholars, a special wedding document for the emperor's wedding, existed in the world, which led to the extreme lack of engagement documents in Qin and Han Dynasties. It was not until the Wei and Jin Dynasties that the engagement letter came again? Initial formation? This new stage of development. According to Tongdian, in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was a wedding ceremony specially for waiting for literati. Six gifts? In these six ceremonies, the names of the man's father and matchmaker are written, right? Six gifts? The man's family property will be recorded in detail. For example, the earliest existing marriage document in China was written by Wang Xizhi when he proposed marriage? Six gifts? Although there are only a few hundred words, from this wedding speech, we can see the basic elements and prototype of the engagement letter.

Final stage of marriage book

The letter of appointment really entered the legal process and became an exact legal text and regulation, which began in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty's legal document "On the Law of Tang Dynasty", it is clearly recorded: Do you promise to marry a woman, have you applied for a marriage certificate, and have you made a private agreement? ; Song Dynasty's book Song Punishment System still clearly pointed out that men and women must not lack marriage papers if they want to conclude marriage. Therefore, since the Tang and Song Dynasties, when a marriage relationship is about to be established or die, it must be proved by a marriage certificate in law. So what is the difference between the legalized marriage documents in this period and those in previous dynasties?

When men and women intermarried in Tang and Song Dynasties, the engagement letter had to go through two steps before it marked the formal establishment of marriage. The engagement letter in Tang and Song Dynasties mainly includes two parts: the draft post and the final post. In the draft post, both men and women will introduce the specific situation of the family in detail, such as family background, marriage and employment, personal situation, date of birth, home address and many other contents. In this manuscript, the place of origin and address of both men and women is the most important part, because dowry and dowry in different regions are different, and this part is closely related to marital property, so it is necessary to describe it in detail in ancient times when the concept of family status was emphasized.

Men and women exchange notes through matchmakers. After parents know the situation of the two families in detail, if parents agree, they can conclude this marriage, even without the consent of both parties, because the ancients have always adhered to it? Parents' orders, matchmaker's words? This traditional marriage principle. After agreeing to conclude this marriage, neither man nor woman will exchange positions. Have you ever experienced it? Change of duty? After this step, the marriage came into effect. Compared with the previous grass posts, the content of setting posts is very different from that of grass posts.

For example, in the Song Dynasty, there was a formal post-setting format for men and women's families, and there were even detailed requirements for the content. Although the content of the final post is simpler than the previous draft post, it is more solemn when writing, and it will show the importance of the two families to this marriage with some gorgeous words, good wishes for this marriage and affirmation for both men and women. The last post is finished. Continue? Change of duty? There is no grand ceremony in the process, and the grass posts are generally exchanged directly by the matchmaker. Choose a good day when exchanging the fixed posts, put the fixed posts in a beautiful gift box, and then the matchmaker will exchange them in the traditional order of men first and women later. This kind of marriage book exchange procedure not only spread in the Tang and Song Dynasties, but also remained unchanged after thousands of years.

The marriage book opened a new stage.

Marriage documents in the Ming and Qing dynasties inherited the system of the previous dynasty, and not only adhered to the Zhou dynasty's? Six gifts? And adopted the engagement letter of Tang and Song Dynasties? Writing? . However, compared with the previous dynasties, the marriage documents in the late Qing Dynasty only briefly introduced the date of birth and parents' names of both men and women in content and form, lacking a lot of empty words, which made the traditional marriage documents less attractive. After entering the Republic of China, due to the drastic changes in European social system and marriage customs, the cultural and ideological fields in this period have undergone serious changes. The letter of appointment in the Republic of China changed from old to new, which was completely different from the feudal era.

In fact, the letter of appointment in the Republic of China has not changed much in form, but the content is different from the old letter of appointment. For example, in the engagement book of the Republic of China, both men and women have the right to get married in this period, so it appears in the marriage book of the Republic of China. Today, the two sides have the same will, the same temperament, and grow old together? Words reflecting the will of both parties; In addition, the marriage documents in the Republic of China also weakened the traditional etiquette? Six gifts? And birthdays, etc., with feudal superstitions. After this change, we can see that marriage in the Republic of China was based on the feelings of men and women, and was no longer restricted by family and etiquette. Since then, a new chapter in China's marriage documents has been opened.