What is the Chinese Bar Mitzvah?

The Han Chinese have had rites of passage since ancient times, which are called "crown rite" for boys and "maturity rite" for girls. Han culture is a culture of etiquette, and the rite of passage of crown and maturity is the starting point of Chinese etiquette. Holding this ceremony for young men and women entering adulthood is to remind them that they will be transformed from "children" with no responsibilities in the family to adults formally entering society, and that only by assuming the responsibilities of adulthood and practicing good virtues will they be able to become qualified for a variety of social roles.

Through this traditional ceremony, one can face up to one's own responsibilities, complete the role change, and declare adulthood. Han Chinese rites of passage, continued for thousands of years, to the Manchu invasion, Manchu rulers a paper order, the end of the extension of thousands of years of rites of passage, so that later people can only be "unknowingly" into adulthood, is gradually restored.

The rite of passage is the ceremony of crowning a man as an adult. In the Book of Rites, it is said that "the rite of passage begins with a crown" and that "a man is twenty years old when he is crowned". For the crown ceremony must not be performed, the "Records of Rites" explanation is: "Where the reason why people are people, the rites and righteousness. The beginning of the rites of passage in the body, Qi color, smooth rhetoric ...... so after the crown and dress ready, dress ready and after the body is correct, color Qi, rhetoric smooth ...... has been crowned and the word, the way of adulthood." According to this, do not know the rites of passage is not a person, do not perform the rites of passage, it is difficult to "adult" in life.

The crown ceremony evolved from the prevalence of clan society into a ceremony, has continued until the Ming Dynasty. The specific ceremony is for the recipient to put his or her hair up in the temple and put on a hat. As there are many costumes to be worn, including crown, hat, turban, shirt, leather belt, shoes and boots, etc., the ceremony is divided into three important procedures, in which hats made of different materials and representing different meanings are put on one by one in three times. After the "three plus", the father or other elders, guests in addition to the name of another "word", only the "crown and word" of the man, only with the qualifications of the future choice of spouse to marry.

In contrast to men's crown rites, women's rites of passage are called maturity rites, also known as adding maturity, and are held when a girl is 15 years old. The girl's parents tie her hair up in a knot and add a hairpin; the change in hair style signifies that the girl's teenage years are over and she is ready to be married.

Expanded:

Maturity rituals

I. Welcome: the host stands at the east steps waiting for the guests; there is a tray standing at the bottom of the west steps; the guests stand outside the venue and wait; the maturity of the person (after bathing), change into the clothes and shoes and sit in the east room (dressing room) and wait; the music starts.

Second, take your place: there is a strict order. When the guest of honor arrives, the parents come forward to greet each other and perform the formal bowing ceremony before entering the room; the guest of honor sits in the guest of honor's seat; the guests are seated in the ceremonial seat; the master sits in the master's seat only after the guests have been seated.

Three, the opening ceremony: the master (father) rose, a brief speech, you can say: today, my daughter so-and-so adult maturity ceremony, thank you for the presence of guests! Below, the daughter of so-and-so adult maturity ceremony officially began! After a moment's pause, say, please so-and-so enter to meet all the guests!

Four, the maturity of the person in place: the first to come out, to wash their hands, in the west step in place; maturity of the person came out, to the field, facing south, to the guests of the ceremony to bow. She then sits (or kneels) on the maturity mat. The celebrant combs her hair, and then places the comb on the south side of the maturity mat.

Fifth, the guests wash their hands in preparation. The guest of honor rises first, and the host then rises to accompany him. The guest of honor washed his hands at the foot of the east steps and dried them. Mutual greeting after the guest of honor and the host of their respective seats.

Sixth, the first increase: the maturity of the girl turned to the east and sat down; a secretary served the girl with a handkerchief and a hairpin, and the guest of honor walked up to the girl; he chanted a blessing that said: "On the auspicious day of the month, the first increase in the costume of the first yuan. I'm going to give up my childhood ambition, and I'm going to fulfill my virtue. Shoukou but good luck, in the jingfu." Then they kneel down (with their knees on the table) to comb the maturity of the girl's hair and add maturity to her hair, then get up and return to their original position. The celebrant symbolically corrects the maturity of the maturity girl. When the maturity girl rises, the guest bows to her and congratulates her. When the maturity girl returns to the east room, the praisewriter takes the clothes from the director and goes to the room to change into a plain jacket that matches the width of the head.

Seven, a worship: the maturity of the person in the jacket skirt out of the room, show to the guests. Then she faces her parents and makes a formal obeisance. This is the first worship. This time it is to express the gratitude for the parents' upbringing.

Eight, two plus: the maturity of the person facing the east is sitting; the main guest and then wash their hands, and then reset; there is a Secretary to serve hairpin, the main guest took, walked to the maturity of the person; loudly chanting the words of congratulations, said: "Auspicious month, is the service of the Shener. To your Wei Yi, Shu Shen Er De. Eyebrows life ten thousand years, forever subject to Hu Fu." The maturity of the maturity of the person to go to the hairpin. The guest of honor kneels down and puts a hairpin on the maturity girl's hair, then rises and resets herself. The praiser helps the maturity girl to symbolically correct the hairpin. The guest makes a bow to the maturity girl. The maturity girl returns to the east room, and the supporter takes the clothes to assist her, and goes to the room to change the hair on her head.

Nine, the second worship: the crown (maturity) facing the main guest, perform formal worship. This is the second worship, showing respect to the teacher and seniors.

Ten, three plus: the main guest for the maturity of the crown (maturity) with turban (plus hairpin crown).

XI, three bows: the crown bearer (maturity girl) faces the national flag and performs a formal bow, which is the third bow, indicating the determination to inherit civilization and serve the motherland.

Twelfth, set sweet: there is the Secretary set up sweet wine table.

Thirteen, jiaozi: the crown (maturity) kneeling to spread some wine on the ground as a sacrificial wine. Then they hold the wine and symbolically dip their lips and eat a little rice.

Fourteenth, the word crown (maturity): to give the crown (maturity) to the "word".

Fifteen, listening to the training: the crown person (maturity) kneels in front of his parents, who teach him.

16. Greeting and thanking: The bridegroom or bride-to-be bows to all the participants in the ceremony as a token of appreciation.

17. The ceremony is completed: the bride and her parents stand side by side and all stand up. The father announces the completion of the ceremony to all the participants.

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