MARRIAGE--PART II
Meanwhile the bridegroom's family had not been idle. They had prepared
and decorated their house; had put up new red scrolls, and draped the
guest-hall and the outside door with red cloth. Large red candles,
painted with gold, were burning on a sort of mantelpiece at the top of
the room, and new lanterns were adorning the hall.
The bedroom for the bride had also been prepared. A man who had been
prosperous in his life and home decided where the bed was to be placed;
and a woman equally prosperous in her home made the bed, and took good
care that no ill-luck should come near the dwelling of the young couple.
When about a mile's distance from her future husband's home,
Everlasting Pearl suddenly ceased her wailing, for it now behoved her
to show the right submission. The old life lay behind her; she had
mourned for it, but must now prepare for the new life ahead.
She was met by messengers from the Hsü family. The chair was put down
and some superstitious rites were performed to drive away the evil
influences which she might have encountered by the way. And then, as
it was getting dark, the lanterns were lighted for the last stage of
the journey, and soon she was carried into her new home. She entered
it to the sound of fire-crackers, music, beating of gongs, and the
shouts of all the people who had gathered in great numbers, each one
present trying to catch the first glimpse of the bride.
The bridal chair was put down in the guest-hall, and there it remained.
After what seemed an exceptionally long waiting time, the door was
unlocked, but still the bride could not move. At last, a woman, the
proud mother of several sons, came forward and helped her out of the
chair. Two little girls, richly adorned with flowers, were waiting,
one on either side of the chair, to offer her some tea. After that she
was led into the room prepared for her. Her own furniture had already
been placed in the room, and the bridegroom, clad in official robes,
was standing near the bed, waiting for her. Then they both sat down, a
table was placed before them with two basins of rice, some eggs,
vermicelli, and a chicken leg for each. Not much of it was eaten,
however; the little bride, still veiled, could touch nothing, but the
guests, who had crowded into the room to stare at her, helped
themselves freely to the rice.
After a short time the bridegroom left the room, and a little later the
bride was led out to the public guest-hall, supported by two women.
The young man was waiting for her. They took their stand in front of
the ancestral tablet side by side, and now the real wedding ceremony
began.
A wadded quilt, covered with red, was spread on a mat on the floor, the
bride and bridegroom knelt down on it, and three times worshipped their
ancestors, their heads touching the ground each time. Then they turned
round and worshipped "Heaven and earth" in the same way. Afterwards
two cups of wine were brought from the table. The man who was
supporting the bridegroom offered the latter one of the cups, and the
second one was held to the lips of the bride by the women in charge of
her. Then the wine from the two cups was mixed, and each one took a
sip from the same cup, indicating that from now on they were united,
and must share life together, whilst some of the bystanders laughingly
chanted:
Together they walk, each other aid,
The knot is tied, the covenant made.
The first ceremony had come to an end. Bride and bridegroom bowed to
each other, and then the latter lifted the veil, and beheld for the
first time the face of the girl who had been given him to wife! The
crowd was getting excited, and from all sides the shout arose:
Oh, with what joy the hour we hail,
When time has come to lift the veil.
The poor little bride was getting weary, and her bridesmaid led her
back to the bedroom, closely followed by the bridegroom. For a few
moments they took their stand together in front of the bed, but soon
the young man went out of the room, threw off his wedding garments, and
began to help in looking after the guests. Soon all of them were
feasting around a number of square tables, the bridegroom being one of
the busiest in ministering to them.
But the bride had not got over her ordeal. The whole evening she was
made a gazing-stock to all. Any one might go in to stare at her, and
acquaintances of the bridegroom and even strangers who crowded into the
room were allowed to make any remarks they liked. The children were
dancing around her singing:
Little bride, little bride!
You climbed the wall from the other side!
Every now and again this refrain was started, and sometimes a more
mischievous boy or girl would take it up, adding another line:
Little bride, little bride!
You climbed the wall from the other side!
And to steal our potatoes moreover tried!
Later on, a table was spread in front of the bride, and a few intimate
friends and relatives had their supper with her, but she herself could
touch nothing. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to keep
calm and composed; no smile lit up her face, no word was uttered, and
it was very seldom that a sentence was addressed to her.
In the middle of the many courses, her mitre was placed on her head
again, and she was led out to the guest-hall. With a wine cup in her
hand, she went from table to table, and bowed low to her husband's
friends. Their cups were filled afresh, and each one took a drink in
honour of the bride, while the band played vigorously. After she had
finished her round, she went back to her bedroom till the feasting was
over.
[Illustration: Adorned as a bride. A proud day in the young girl's
life.]
It was then getting late, and the young bridegroom entered, accompanied
by his friends, who were carrying big red candles in front of him, and
sending off fire-crackers. They did not leave the young people till
after midnight, and not before having tried to get hold of as many of
their belongings as possible. These they endeavoured to hide, and a
good thing it was that the bride had got plenty of sweets, peanuts,
beans, etc., for all the stolen articles had to be redeemed the
following morning.
After a few short hours of rest, the young people had to get ready for
breakfast, and soon afterwards the second part of the wedding ceremony
began, the part which is called _Fen ta siao_, which, literally
translated, means "To distinguish between great and small." Bride and
bridegroom were arrayed once more in their wedding robes, and proceeded
to the guest-hall where all the relatives were assembled. Again the
two knelt together on the red quilt, bowing their heads three times to
the ground before Mr. and Mrs. Hsü, who bowed in return. Mr. Hsü threw
down the keys of the household before the young people. He had,
however, no thought of giving them any responsibility, and every
intention of getting the keys back into his own pockets and keeping
them there.
Then the uncles and aunts were led forward, to whom was paid the same
respect. The brothers, cousins, and other relatives came next, but
being of the same generation as the bride and bridegroom, they also
knelt down and "worshipped" them in return. Each relative put a piece
of money, wrapped in red paper, on a tray placed there for that
purpose, and, when filled, it was carried to the bride's room until a
more convenient time was found for the counting of the money.
The whole party, headed by the bridegroom and the bride, then proceeded
to the kitchen for the purpose of worshipping the kitchen god. The
bridegroom carried a rice measure with a lamp placed in it, the bride a
brush for cleaning the cooking pan. Many superstitious rites are
connected with the worship in the kitchen, the smallest detail has its
own meaning, but it would be too tedious to relate all.
The dinner came next, and this time the bride had to take the seat of
honour at the top table, but once seated there, she remained as silent
as the night before, and ate nothing. Again she went round to bow to
the guests at the different tables, who all stood up and solemnly drank
her health.
After dinner she was allowed to put off her bridal attire, and wear
some of the clothes sent her by her husband. She was also permitted to
throw off some of the reserve of the past days, and could talk more
freely to those around her.
The following day a messenger arrived from Mr. and Mrs. Tu, inviting
the young couple to return to the bride's home for dinner. They were
both carried in sedan chairs, and had to wear most of their wedding
garments again. They were very careful and modest in their
behaviour,--young Hsü especially was afraid of offending in word or
deed,--and they were not sorry when, soon after the formal dinner, they
could once more return home. Another formal visit had to be paid,
about two months later, at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, to
the bride's home, but then a more free and natural relationship was
established between the two families.