AComparativeStudyofWeddingRitualsinChineseandWesternCultures

1. Introduction

Wedding rituals can reflect the traditional culture of a country. Different countries have different wedding rituals due to the cultural differences. The essay discusses the differences of wedding rituals between Chinese and western cultures， analyses and explores the internal cultural reasons to help improve cultural exchange between Chinese and western countries.

2. Different Wedding Rituals in Chinese and Western Cultures

2.1 Wedding Location

wedding is usually held in the bridegrooms house as the bride will live with the bridegrooms family after the marriage in ancient China. But nowadays most young couples that live in urban will hold the wedding ceremony in a hotel. In the west， church is the best location for the wedding as they have strong religious beliefs.

2.2 Wedding Dress

In Chinese culture， red is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity， so traditional brides wedding dress includes “a red veil， a red coat， a pair of embroidered shoes， etc.， and the bridegroom should wear red wedding suit. On the wedding ceremony， we can see red everywhere， red “double happiness”， red packets， red candles， etc. Nowadays， Chinese people also wear white wedding dress on their wedding day， but its just a sign of cultural exchange. While westerners regard white as the right color to choose in wedding ceremony， white is the symbol of purity and precious， so the bride wears a white wedding dress and the bridegroom wears a formal suit.

It indicates that people in different cultures have different perceptions of colors and aesthetic values.

2.3 Wedding Ceremony

In Chinese history， wedding ceremony is long and complicated. In the Book of Rites， it is important to follow the six steps： proposing a marriage， asking the name， asking for fortune， sending betrothal gifts， selecting the wedding date， escorting the bride to the wedding ceremony. The main rite in the ancient wedding ceremony is the “bowing to the Heaven and Earth” and “jiaobeijiu”， which shows that the couples have got the permissions of heaven and earth， the blessings of their ancestors and parents so they become real husband and wife.

Western wedding ceremony is solemn and romantic. Firstly， the bride and bridegroom， the parents， relatives， friends， the best man and the bridesmaid must arrive at the church on time. Then all people need to stay on their proper place. With the wedding march， the bride and her father will step into the church under the guidance of the flower girls. Then the priest will read the wedding vows. After the bride and the bridegroom take the oaths in front of God， they will exchange rings and kiss each other. At last， the bride throws out the bouquet and ceremony come to an end with the new couple leaving for the honeymoon.

It shows that western wedding is a solemn religious ceremony， while Chinese wedding is complicated and pays more attention to etiquettes.

3. Reason Analysis of Different Wedding Rituals in Chinese and Western Cultures

From the above analysis， it is easy to find Chinese and westerners differ in the attitudes towards marriage and the religious beliefs.

Attitudes towards marriage in China are greatly influenced by Confucianism. Marriage made in heaven in Confucianism. Therefore， although the men and women have no real feelings with each other， they have to get married under the pressure of the parents. In Confucianism， there is saying that a virtuous woman is supposed to uphold “three obediences and four virtues”. This opinion results in unequal relationship between husband and wife in Chinese marriage. So the wedding usually is held in the house of the bridegroom. China is known as “the nation of rites” for centuries and pays more attention to various etiquette and wedding atmosphere. This opinion leads to the complicated wedding ceremony and wearing red wedding dress， but ignoring personal feelings.

Attitudes towards marriage in western culture have a long historical origin of love from ancient Greek that love can be never ignored in peoples life. So it is natural for them to bond marriage with love and the relationship between husband and wife is equal. It is proved by the event that they choose to have a honeymoon after the wedding ceremony.

4. Conclusion

To improve intercultural communication between Chinese and western countries， the essay makes the comparison from wedding location， wedding dress， and wedding ceremony of wedding rituals. Sum up， different wedding rituals are influenced by different attitudes towards marriage. The opinion on marriage in China is affected by Confucianism， While Christianity has much more influence on westerners attitudes towards marriage.

References：

[1]Tong，Shen.A Comparative Study of Chinese and English Marriage Custom[J].Overseas English Nov，2012：277.

[2]Walsh，Jeff.My First Chinese Wedding[J].Expats Eye Dec， 2009，17.

【作者簡介】鄧麗蓉，西安汽車科技職業學院。