Ancient Royal Marriage Rites

Limited to men and women of the year of marriage, the implementation of the six rites, began in the Zhou Dynasty. The Rites of Passage, the Tang Law, the Ming Law, the six rites of passage, repeated natsui, ask the name, naji, naji, tell the period, kiss and welcome. Even the emperor, but also not immune to "buy and sell marriage" custom. Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun wedding, only weaving fees with more than 90,000 silver; Qing Tongzhi Emperor Zaichun wedding, *** spent more than 20 million silver.

Ming Zhengtong seven years (1442 years), Yingzong Zhu Qizhen year sixteen, the marriage to marry a daughter-in-law.

Perhaps, in addition to the sky and the earth, is the emperor big; perhaps, the emperor's wedding scene is big, the movement is big, the rules are big, trouble is big ...... anyway, the emperor marrying a daughter-in-law is called "big wedding".

The big wedding at the same time, with the gold book, gold treasure (certificates and seals), enrolled in the queen; enrolled in the queen at the same time, choose one to four concubines.

Not every emperor can catch the big wedding this kind of scenery and decent thing. Before the throne of the emperor has been married to the adult, after becoming emperor, only held the ceremony of the empress, not to make up for the wedding.

Zhu Qizhen this kid is lucky, in time for the wedding. In order to do this, the Empress Dowager Zhang, Empress Dowager Wu, as well as the court officials, searching, a thousand choices, worry about. The eunuch, Zhu Qi Zhen's "forgetful friend" Wang Zhen, also busy and happy. Whether it is from private friendship, patting the fart solid royal grace, or from the public affairs, or even take the opportunity to make a lot of money, Wang Zhen are sincere advocates of "do special", and early to the country to send out a purchasing group, look at the kind of ordering.

Zhu Qizhen this "lamp", would have cost oil, and never get a "crazy girl", with him paired children! Empress Dowager Zhang weighing to weigh to go, comprehensive views and suggestions from all sides, resolutely break the "Queen from the people" of the ancestral tradition, decided to clap: to the Ministry of Public Works Secretary Qian Yunming's eldest daughter for the Queen, to the Royal Secretary Yunxiang's daughter for the consort. After the meeting between the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy officials, they fully agreed and firmly supported the Empress Dowager's wise decision. Subsequently, the Hanlin Academy was responsible for drafting certificates and other relevant documents, while the Ministry of Rites was responsible for making books and treasures, and preparing supplies and gifts in conjunction with the Secretaries of Departments and the Ministry of the Interior. The Qin Tian Jian's burden is also not light, responsible for choosing the auspicious day, in order to "perform six rituals".

The "six rites of passage" began in the Zhou Dynasty, when men and women were limited to a certain number of years, and marriage was decided. In the Book of Rites - The King's System, the six rites are: "Crown, marriage, funeral, sacrifice, township, and meeting". The "crown" is the "rite of passage"; if you have not reached adulthood and have not held the "rite of passage", then it is a "rite of passage" to get married. It would be a "non-ritual" to marry before reaching adulthood and without the "rite of passage". The "Rites of Passage", "Tang Law" and "Ming Law", stipulate that the procedure of "marriage" is as follows: Nacai, asking for the name of the bride, Naji, Naji, the levy, the announcement of the date and the welcome, which is also known as the "six rites".

Nacai, that is, to send gifts, marriage, please matchmakers to explore the mouth, the truth. Ancient people believe that the geese "sing with the woman", the feelings of dedication, it is worth learning; therefore, Nacai take a goose as a gift. The Ming and Qing dynasties, meet the gift can be rich, compare each other, can no longer just take a goose to the matter.

Ask for the name

Ask for the name, is to hold a ceremony to ask each other's name, date of birth, to see whether the "fate" is appropriate.

To the day of the nativity, ask the name of this day, the Ministry of Ceremony officials drew up etiquette procedures and norms, and a large group of eunuchs, courtesans, busy back and forth, set up the venue for the ceremony. According to the "usual rituals", set up ceremonial battles in the Qianqing Gate, set up female music in the Qianqing Palace on the steps. Qianqing Palace in the main hall, temporarily set up two tables, paved with apricot-yellow satin tablecloth, a table on top of the "Festival", another table on top of the "ask the name" edict. The gifts that are ready to be sent to Qian Shangshu's house are also displayed in broad daylight.

The ceremony of the big wedding, members of the royal family, court officials also rare, perhaps once in a lifetime. Don't look at the Ministry of Ceremonies officials staggering, in fact, they are also based on the relevant provisions of the canonical books and documents, "crossing the river by touching the stones", learning by doing. Other central authorities to observe the ceremony of the officials, feel fresh, focusing on watching the fun, forgetting to observe the discipline. Honglu Temple (in charge of protocol) of the officials easily caught a chance to show their faces, pointing to straighten out the ceremony procession, maintaining order, causing a lot of "sell dumb" officials, they look at them sideways.

The official of the Qin Tian Supervisor reported: the auspicious time has come! Zhu Qizhen dressed like a person, within the ministers, guards, eunuchs, surrounded by a grand entrance, in the sound of music into the Qianqing Palace, ascending. Princes and ministers bowed to the ground, shouting long live. Proclaimed the system officer for the imperial edict, standing on the east side of the Dan Sheng, loudly proclaimed the imperial edict, the appointment of the first, deputy two angels, to go to the money Shangshu family nativity, asking for the name. In the sound of music, the two angels Fengjie, Fengzhao. Rites of passage, Zhu Qizhen retired from the court.

Positive angel holding the festival, deputy angel holding the name of the imperial edict; honor guards, drum band in front of the road, gift officials followed in the ass end of the two angels, from the Qianqing Palace, blowing and blowing, running to the money house.

"Bar Mitzvah"

Qian Shangshu kneeling at the gate to receive the angel, the decree, accept gifts, thank you. On the matter of the name ceremony, Qian Shangshu wrote his daughter's name, resume, birth date and eight characters of the contents of the "table", submitted to the angel. After the ceremony, the Qian family feasted on the angel. The honor guards, drummers and musicians can only eat "boxed lunch".

Wine and dine, the angel led the team back to the Forbidden City. Into the Noon Gate, stopped outside the Gate of Taihe, will be "section" and "table", to the eunuchs, even if the task is successfully completed. Secretaries of the eunuchs holding section, table, to the Qianqing Palace to restore the "imperial order". Zhu Qizhen to the princes and ministers "edict" Nacai, ask the name of the situation.

The royal family chose a day for Zhu Qizhen held a grand "on the ceremony", that is, "Zhou Li. Wang system" said the "crown" ceremony.

This ceremony is similar to the "rite of passage" still practiced in some parts of the world or ethnic groups, which declares that a man or a woman has reached the age of majority and symbolically dresses him (her) in adult clothes and hats. From then on, he or she has the freedom to socialize and talk about marriage.

The Mosuo, who live in the Lijiang region of China's Yunnan province, are more forthright and simply call the ceremony "wearing pants" or "wearing skirts," which is organized by an uncle or mother, respectively, for boys and girls who have reached the age of 13. When the sun shines into the house, the boy and girl step on grain pockets and large pieces of pork, the boy holds a spear and silver dollars, and the girl holds jewelry and clothing, and the host removes the child's clothes and puts on the adult's pants or skirt for him or her. The "adult" men and women, one by one, toast to the guests and receive gifts from them.

Ju Qizhen in the "on in the ceremony", put on a kind of hat called "Tongtian crown". In this way, he can pretend to be "people". Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager and other royal elders, on the spot to observe the ceremony; princes and ministers three kneel nine kowtow, expressed warm congratulations. Ceremony completed, Zhu Qizhen went to the ancestors, and then to the dowager empress, the dowager's chambers, kneeling to thank the grace of parenting.

As an adult, no matter what Zhu Qizhen "hat" before they have done, "hat" after, but also have to take an important physiological knowledge class. It is said that, since ancient times, all dynasties and generations of the crown prince or the young emperor, after entering puberty, the royal family have to send specialists (also known as masters) to teach to the human family; only then, they can be competent "on the matter of the temple, under the continuation of the next generation," the burden. This sex education, both serious and lively; both theoretical knowledge, and through the "Chun Gong Tu" and models, show how to operate.

According to the "Wanli wild access to the compilation" recorded, the Ming Dynasty Forbidden City enshrined in the Huanxiu Buddha, is the crown prince or the young emperor of one of the teaching aids for sexual initiation education. Joyful Buddha is a male and female statue of Buddha, into the mutual embrace shape. Buddha body has a mechanism to control the male and female genitals; press the mechanism, the Buddha will be the shape of intercourse. When you first enter the temple, a ceremony must be held in which the teacher leads the students to burn incense, make offerings, and bow down. Then, the teacher explains and demonstrates. Only with the teacher's permission can the students touch the Buddha's body, or even manipulate and practice. "Classes", teachers and students must be "dignified", "serious"; cheeky, playful, as "child's play "Treat it as a child's play, that is absolutely not acceptable.

The aforementioned, the northwest of the Imperial Palace Yuhua Pavilion enshrined five Joyful Buddha, is not the "Wanli wild access to the compilation" said "teaching aids", is not known.

The Qing dynasty royal sexual enlightenment education, is said to be more standardized than the Ming dynasty, more systematic. Before the marriage, the young emperor on the "theoretical knowledge class", the relevant aspects of the election of eight beautiful and older courtesans, as the young emperor's "Secretary door", "Secretary account",

Zhu Qizhen performed "on the ceremony", according to the Chintian Supervisor selected under the auspicious day, auspicious time, the Na Ji, Na Zheng ritual.

Naji, to put it bluntly, is a fortune-telling, that is, the ancients for the marriage of the matter of divination; if it is a "good omen", the birth date and the right eight characters, please matchmakers to carry gifts to the betrothal.

Nazheng, is to send engagement gifts. As the old saying goes, "Men and women can't make friends without a matchmaker, and they can't see each other without a coin." Therefore, Nagee is also known as "Nagee". Coin, is used as an ancient engagement gift of jade or silk silk fabrics.

Performing Naji, Najing ceremony, the palace still have to hold the corresponding ceremony, sent angels with festivals, with gifts and relevant documents, to Qian Shangshu home. This time, the Qian family old and young, who can move, out of the nest, kneeling outside the gate to receive the angel. They certainly have a reason to be excited and happy. The emperor's son-in-law "no choice", very thoughtful. Gifts, cash and in kind, both complete; not only the rich lady's, but also the rich minister and his entire family, even the housekeeper, servants, also everyone has a share, is indeed "rainfall", "imperial grace". Moreover, after the Naji and Naozheng, this "imperial relatives" even if climbed, even if into the bridal chamber before the emperor son-in-law has a long and short, "Empress" of the name and the glory of the imperial relatives, are also to the hand. According to traditional custom, once engaged, Miss Qian is the Zhu family. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Minister of the Interior Qing Shan's daughter A Yuan, and Empress Dowager Cixi's nephew engaged, everything is ready, just waiting for the wedding. At this juncture, the Empress Dowager's great-nephew died. However, a yuan has been the Yehe Nara family, life may not talk about marriage again. Just turned eighteen years old girl, was called "Yuan big grandma". To her full twenty years of age, only "real", looks, the whole of a more than forty years of half a big wife.

In folklore, the fiancé died, the wedding date arrived, the wedding is still held. Bride and unmarried sister-in-law, or with a large rooster to worship heaven and earth; after that, either alone in the room, or with a wooden dummy **** bed.

The real show, in the day of the pro welcome

The notice period, that is, the date of marriage, notify each other. At this point, the prelude to the wedding is sung. The real show is on the day of the wedding.

Personal welcome, that is a requirement for the common people. The emperor can not condescend to the old mother-in-law's home to pick up the new daughter-in-law. He chose to send "children" representatives to go, from them to "borrow a little bit of fairy gas". Welcome the day, Zhu Qizhen got up early. He did not sleep at all, tossing and turning to figure out: the money in the end, what Miss looks like. If it is not every step of the procedure, have to be in accordance with the "auspicious time" identified by the Qin Tian Supervisor, he would like to get up. Zhu Qizhen put on a gown, in the face of a bit of make-up, beautiful to the ancestor, worship the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. Then, in the sound of music in the Royal Hall of Supreme Harmony. Welcoming and enshrining the queen with the festival, certificate, gold seal, and so on, placed on the table temporarily set up in the hall. Zhu Qizhen walked over, pretending to check once, before ascending to the seat.

The palace is decorated everywhere. The main palace, are ready to firecrackers, red hot gold double happiness word large candles. Royal road are paved with red felt.

Shao music in and in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the DanHaiDaLe is located in the door of the Supreme Harmony. Law driving halogen books in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the courtyard. Queen's ceremonial display outside the noon gate, which has a Queen's mikoshi, outside the apricot-yellow satin curtains, embroidered with a large phoenix with gold thread. The "female music" was set up behind the Qianqing Palace and in front of the Jiaotai Hall. Princes and ministers stood joyfully on the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the courtyard. Static whip three, in the sound of drums and music, princes and ministers to the emperor line "three kneeling and nine kowtow" salute, "long live" sound, the ground shook. After the ceremony, the music stops, the Ministry of Rites Minister of gold book, gold treasure, read the book, treasure text; then, the section, book, treasure awarded to welcome the messenger. Princes and ministers worship again. Zhu Qizhen in the sound of music, driving back to Qianqing Palace, waiting for a good woman.

Welcoming messenger to the gold book, gold treasure to the "Dragon Pavilion". Honor guards, drums in front of the band, welcoming messengers in the middle, followed by welcoming officials, eunuchs, guards, out of the noon gate, together with the Queen's honor guards, carrying a large number of gifts, straight to the money house. A line of people, flowers and green, stretching for miles, is definitely a rare "beautiful scenery". Along the way, the viewers like a tide, tailing always, many people.

Qianfu since the Nacai, a small move; since the Naji, a big move;告期以来，全府总员，上下下，谁都不能闲着，整修宅院，大搞环境卫生；虽然不能 "unauthorized"，搞得像皇宫一般辉煌，但是，也得光彩夺目，尽量让人看着有 "The family is the right family" feeling. Single up and down the whole house, the whole family, do three new lines inside and outside, it is busy enough, not to mention, also have to put up lights and colors, open the wedding feast, widely distributed "wedding invitations" it!

Makeup for the bride, the most brain-wracking. Make so much noise, almost the world is known to all, raw rice basically into a cooked meal, "return" is unlikely. However, in case the emperor's son-in-law lifted the lid, not satisfied, not happy, this family relatives do not go close, the emperor will not be voluminous. So, bath ah bath ah, hate to rub off a layer of skin Miss Qian! After bathing, repeatedly with mung bean powder as the main raw material made of skin care agent, western region perfume, knead the face and wipe the body; and then honey, rose petals and other raw materials made of cleansing milk coated with the face, with the court ministers are rare high-grade paper film, gently wiped; and sheep's fat, white vegetarian Xinxiang and other raw materials made of skin care cream, repeatedly coated. The last process is, in the face of powder, drawing eyeliner, eye shadow, depicting the green eyebrow, wipe red lips; and then in the two cheeks, drumming out two "cheek red" to.

As for the hair style, of course, according to the "documents" specified in several kinds of appearance, choose to deal with. That is a "level", the whole like a concubine, princess, that would be bad. Whether it was the romantic "flying bun" or the innovative "heavenly bun", it was important to consider the convenience of wearing a phoenix crown, but also to fit Miss Qian's face. The two locks of sideburns, in any case, should be "natural down", like a floating cicada wings, so that the emperor's son-in-law at first sight, the two eyes shine.

Speaking fast, then slow. After repeated refinements, repeated tests, repeated arguments, repeated rehearsals, until the first night of the wedding, only the final "final plate". But good, so a primping, looks, Miss Qian like a porcelain person like, a little bit alive gas are not. However, her parents are good: beautiful, the most important, is "dignified".

At the moment, Miss Qian is fully armed, sitting on the embroidery building, hearing the sound of drums and music to welcome the bride is getting closer and closer, the heart of the "drum", the more the point is also more urgent. The time has not yet come, I do not know whether this face, can get "customers" favor!

The subsequent experience proved that Miss Qian's worries were justified. She was not able to enjoy much, but she suffered a lot.

Qian Shangshu rate of the whole family, kneeling at the gate to receive the welcoming team. The first time I saw this, I was in the middle of a conversation with a man who had been in the middle of a conversation with a woman. Drums and music, Jin Yiwei sedan chairmen to the Queen's ceremonial marshes, Dragon Pavilion, carried into the front yard, and then carried by the eunuchs to the backyard of the "embroidery" in front of the official designated by the Chintian Supervision of the "auspicious direction" parked. Miss Qian dressed in queen's gown, wearing a phoenix crown Xiapi, shining out, kneeling to receive the gold book, gold treasure, back to the "building" to wait for the auspicious time.

When the auspicious time arrives, the bride rises the carriage to start the car. The procession through the front gate, along the Imperial Road, through the Daming Gate, into the Tiananmen Square, the Duanmen Gate, to the Noon Gate, the city tower bells and drums ringing. The procession from the Noon Gate center doorway into the Forbidden City, through the Taihe Gate, to the Qianqing Gate. Queen's honor guards into the Qianqing Gate, eunuchs, courtesans lined the road, slap "warm welcome". His Majesty in the Dan, welcoming envoys to return to the festival to resume their orders. Drums and music, the Ministry of Rites officials with the Empress of the Golden Book, the Golden Treasure, handing over the relevant people displayed in the back of the Palace of Qianqing Palace of Jiao Tai Hall. Bride sitting on the mikoshi, by the enjoined wife, female officers, courtesans, or lead, or lift, or help, or with, sent to the Kun Ning Palace to worship heaven and earth, to perform the rite of passage.

Fm radio. Fm radio is "fm radio". In ancient times, a gourd into two dippers, the bride and groom each hold one of them, drink a cup of wine, take "two and one" meaning. It seems that the ancients have long realized that "half of a man is a woman". However, as the saying goes: press the gourd up ladybird. This thing does not seem to be auspicious, and later people use cups to drink wine. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the fm radio cups were specially made for the empress and the fm radio - two consecutive cylindrical fm radio cups, about 75 centimeters in height, with convex carvings of dragons and phoenixes, as well as two "limerick poems" on the outside. This special fm radio cup is now in the National Palace Museum. It is a national second-class cultural relic, so it will not be rented or loaned out. Besides, if anyone uses it, it is easy to catch SARS, AIDS, cholera, typhoid, etc. Nowadays, people spare no expense to get married. Nowadays, people get married without sparing blood money, pay attention to the platoon; might as well spend less money, imitation of a, cool it a hand. Miss Qian and Zhu Qizhen sat opposite each other in Kunning Palace. The bride poured a cup of wine, handed to the groom; groom sip, to the bride, the bride drank. The groom poured a cup of wine, handed over to the bride; the bride sip, back to the groom, the groom drank a mouthful. The cup of wine is finished, as the Queen, Ms. Qian settled in Kunning Palace.

Wedding into a large, the aftermath

Zhu Qizhen Qian with the Empress, to worship the ancestors; at the dowager Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager's chambers, the line of audience; Zhu Qizhen Royal Palace of the Qianqing Palace, the "imperial edict" wedding into the Empress rate of consort, etc., bowing to her husband. Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager in their respective chambers, to the newlyweds gift, set up a banquet to congratulate. Zhu Qizhen Royal Hall of Supreme Harmony, accept the congratulations of princes and ministers. His Majesty hosted a banquet to entertain the Empress's family, giving gifts.

Marriage "limited to men and women of the year", the emperor can not be arbitrary. Wanli five years, the Empress Dowager Li for the Emperor Zhu Yijun set the queen candidate. Qin Tianjian repeatedly argued that only December "suitable for marriage". University of Zhang Juzheng straight sip teeth: after the year, the emperor is only sixteen years old, wax month to marry, is not "early marriage", "indecent exposure"? However, the next year and then do the wedding, Zhu Yijun will certainly "fire on the room", "monkey rush"; how to do?

Well, the Empress Dowager Li's impression of Zhang Juzheng is good, his words, she listened to. Zhang Juzheng asked to see the Empress Dowager, said to her: "Yingzong, Wuzong, Shizong, are sixteen years old wedding, we can not break the rules of the ancestors. If we wait until next year's waxing moon, it is indeed a little late. I think March or April next year is more appropriate. Even though the Heavenly Commissioner doesn't think it's a good idea, that's the general public's opinion. What kind of person is the Emperor? The proud son of heaven, a blessing overrides a hundred disasters, which gods and Buddhas have to sell this face and bless him."

The Empress Dowager Li thought twice, decided to come to a "moderate", the next year in February to do things.

Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun marriage, the weaving fee alone, spent more than 90,000 silver. He gave several sons to do wedding children, in order to purchase jewelry, spent more than 24 million taels of silver.

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang set up a rule for future generations: "Empresses come from the people." In the process of implementing the rule, "pro-people" turned into "disturbing the people". Officials around the order, a large selection of thirteen to sixteen-year-old unmarried girls, sent to the capital, the local immediately chicken flew into a mess. The people who are not happy to be selected, crying; want to take the opportunity to jump the Dragon Gate, laughing; can not leave their parents and the love of the brother, hanged himself in the river.

Wanli years, folk rumors, "the emperor is going to beauty pageant again. At one time, the marriage of the girl, son-in-law, busy dark. Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, a man, is traveling, in order to buy time, but also rushed to find a daughter in-laws. In a hurry, there is nothing valuable on hand, had to use a belt, right as a "token". At that time, people did not have such things as cell phones, it is difficult to exchange messages. His wife at home, do not know when the family is dead or alive, when can come back, in a hurry, take the initiative, the daughter promised to a rich family. When the head of the family came back, the "male" said that the male has a point, the "female" said that the female has a point, and there was a lot of noise. The big money heard the news, to a "near water tower first moon", the first to go, to marry the bride. The girl is quite stubborn, only to follow the father's orders, not from the mother's will, in the sedan chair cut his throat.

Tianqi first year (1621), Xi Zong Zhu Yu school ready to get married, the world's widely selected beauty. The news came, Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, many parents, worried about their daughters once selected, such as the potential of forever, they seize the time to talk about marriage. Singles young and old, handsome and ugly, the value of a steep increase, and even the phenomenon of "pulling a match" - without asking, from the street to pull a man, to the home to force him to marry with his own daughter bye bye. In the 1950s, the Hong Kong Phoenix Pictures produced a color film "robbing the bridegroom", an image and vivid description of a similar scene.

Thousands of beautiful women have gathered in the capital city, and they are all very colorful and beautiful. They came from far and wide, and many of them did not see what the Forbidden City looked like in the end, and were eliminated in the preliminary selection. The rest, every hundred people a batch, according to the age of the queue, the order of the palace, to participate in the "selected". Shoulder the heavy responsibility of the eunuchs, far look, close look, those who are a little taller, a little shorter, a little fatter, a little thinner, are pulled out, sent back to their original homes. Stay, and then according to the age of the group, into the "first trial".

The eunuch with extremely critical eyes, examining each girl, observe their appearance, listen to their voices, hair, ears, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, jaw, shoulders, back, legs, feet, sound, as long as there is a place to look at the eye, listen to the ear, on the spot, "return".

"Second trial", the eunuch with a ruler, measure the girl's hands, arms, waist, legs, feet, and then make the girl "activities". Where a size does not meet the requirements, each part of the "parts" do not match, as well as style, poor manners, all sent home.

"Three trials" by the female officers and older courtesans. The girl alone into a secret room, stripped naked, female officials and courtesans touch their breasts, explore their secret, smell their taste, check their skin ...... qualified people in the palace to receive about a month of training. In their familiarization with the rules of the palace, the process of learning the norms of etiquette, responsible for the training of female officers, to examine their intelligence, character style of the merits and demerits; of course, sleep teeth farting barking mouth, sleep talking hysteria, absolutely can not be allowed to stay in the future alarmed the driving, that is not a joke!

After a thousand filters, there are only a few dozen "elites".

"Guangxu Emperor's wedding" local "final judgment" is generally responsible for the Empress Dowager, sometimes the Emperor himself. They are placed on the table in front of the list, one by one will pass the elite into. The girl stood but not kneeling, to answer some questions about the name, family status, learning. The "examiners" scrutinized the shape and sound, and selected one queen, one consort, or several consorts from the list. The rest, given to the Prince, County King, Prince, Prince Grandson, or stay in the Palace as a "female officer", palace maid. Ming Dynasty, there are "six bureaus" in the inner court, run by female officers, each bureau under the "four divisions", female officers in more than a hundred people; they are the emperor's consort of the "reserve army".

Ming Jiajing years, for the Shizong Zhu Houzhi chimney queen selection, the Ministry of Rites is responsible for the initial selection, Empress Dowager Zhang is responsible for the final review. She listened to the official who watched the heavenly signs of the Chintian Supervisor said, Hebei Da Mingfu "have good gas", the final girl, most of the girls from Da Mingfu. Empress Zhang sat behind a green curtain. Girls in groups of three, "one positive and two vice", in order to be passed into. Empress Dowager Zhang favorite girl, give a red gold and jade bracelet, by the courtesan on the spot to her, the girl was firmly "handcuffed". Failure to select the girl, Empress Dowager Zhang let the courtesan put a few silver coins, stuffed into her sleeve.

Qing Dynasty, Kunning Palace is no longer Queen's Bedchamber, only in the East Warming Pavilion into the "Cave". Wedding etiquette and the Ming Dynasty is similar. The Qing Historical Manuscripts, said the Tongzhi Emperor Zaichun wedding, "Nacai, big levy, hair book, welcome, all comply with the style." Some historical sources say that the Guangxu Emperor Zaihui's wedding program is: Nacai ceremony, levy ceremony, register ceremony, welcome ceremony, fm radio ceremony, celebration ceremony, give feast.

Some of the above records, some of the "six rites" simplified, while others are refined. They are not the same, but the practice is the same.

Some of the above accounts simplify the "six rites", while others refine them.