In ancient times, how did those ancient people ensure the legitimacy and validity of marriage?

China's civilization is five thousand years old, in which the husband and wife system is how to come, in ancient times, those ancient people and how to ensure the legitimacy and validity of marriage?

In fact, in ancient times, marriage was practiced under the system of "monogamy and concubinage", that is, there was only one main wife, and the rest of the women were concubines if they entered the house. The conditions of the rich family will also have a house maid, but the house maid if done rituals, it will also be turned into a concubine. If the emperor has an old - queen, the rest are concubines is a reason.

In ancient times, the relationship between men and women was unequal, women for the man's subordinate, they married who depends on the parents' decision, and the woman must be from one to the other, can not and will not have any other ideas. It is also because of this concept that women develop an attitude of loyalty and devotion to love, and even if they are no longer able to live together, this is not something they can control, but must be decided by their parents as to whether or not they can continue to live together. On the bright side, because of such traditional attitudes, it also curbed the morally bankrupt side of marriage.

Ancient marriage etiquette compared to today's wedding etiquette is more grand and cumbersome, the three books and six rituals is a must, because there is a book of engagement, rituals, welcome book, the validity of the marriage, of course, only this is not enough, the important thing is still the bride price. It is the bride price that must be there when marrying a proper wife. The second thing is the wedding ceremony similar to today's wedding ceremony.

After the wedding ceremony, the marriage has been witnessed by everyone, and it is a reasonable, legal and valid marriage. In ancient times, women had no social status and could only have one husband, and even if he died, she could not remarry. Although the ancient marriage fully guarantees the marriage status, but it is not fair and just to women.