What is a bride price?

Bridal price is one of the ancient wedding customs in China, also known as betrothal price, bride price and engagement. In ancient China, when an engagement was concluded, it was customary to exchange betrothal money and bride price. This kind of betrothal money and dowry is usually called "bride price". During the period after the founding of New China, the bride price and the engagement related to the bride price were criticized and once abolished, but they have always existed among the people.

Bride price is a bride price or gift given to each other in the usual understanding, especially in marriage and love. In today's internet, it also refers to an act of giving each other lottery tickets and blessings. In some places, this custom is called expropriation, which means success.

More and more attention has been paid to the social contradictions caused by the bad habit of "exorbitant bride price", and various rectification actions have been carried out in some areas. Chapter I General Provisions Article 3 of the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China: "Arranging, buying and selling marriages and other acts that interfere with the freedom of marriage are prohibited.

Extended data

Ancient times: At the engagement ceremony, the man's family would give the woman a "bride price" composed of items symbolizing happiness in the name of the engaged man. After receiving the bride price, the bride's family will also give the man considerable property, which is called "return gift". When a woman gets married, her mother's family will add many times the property to her husband's family on the basis of bride price, which is called "dowry".

Modernity: In some areas and families, the bride price has been given too much material significance, even becoming a heavy burden and losing its original intention.