On-Differences-of-Marriage-Customs-Between-China-and-Western-Countries-浅论中西婚俗差异

Page1Page1Page1Page1Page1Page1Page1Page1Page1PAGE17- 本科生毕业论文题目OnDifferencesofMarriageCustomsBetweenChinaandWesternCountries专业英语 班级094 姓名 指导教师 所在学院外国语学院 完成时间2013年02月18日OnDifferencesofMarriageCustomsBetweenChinaandWesternCountriesAbstract:Marriageisaceremoniousthingineveryone’slife.Nomatterinwhichcountryandreligion,weddingisafestivething.AsthecountriesofChinawithalonghistoryandthewesterncountrieswithrapiddevelopment,althoughtherearemanydifferencesinweddingculture,theyallcarrywithloveandbestwishes.TherearemanyproceduresinChinesemarriagecustom.Earliestweddingceremonyincludingsixetiquettes:proposing,askingthename,askingforfortune,sendingbetrothaltothegirl’sfamily,choosingthedateofweddingandholdweddingceremony.However,inwestern,therearenormallyfourproceduresincludingproposal,changingsurnames,choosingthedayandholdingthewedding.Withtheprogressofoverallsociety,someinstitutionsofmarriagebegintochangegradually.Thus,itisnecessarytoknowaboutsomeforeignweddingcultures.ThispaperaimsatmakingcomparisonbetweenChinesemarriageandwesternmarriagebyanalyzingdifferentmarriagesystem,religious,geographiesandvalueorientation.Bytakinganewlookatcontemporarymarriageandmakingcomparison,wecanknowmoreaboutnewmarriagevalueofmodernpeople.Keyword:Marriage;wedding;weddingculture;contemporarymarriage；comparison摘要婚姻在每个人的生命中都是非常隆重的事情。无论是哪个国家或宗教，婚礼是一个值得庆祝的节日。有着悠久历史的中国和快速发展中的西方国家虽然有不同的婚俗文化，但是婚礼都是充满爱和祝福的。中国的传统婚姻有许多讲究。最早的婚礼仪式有纳彩、问名、纳吉、纳征、请期、亲迎。而西方通常只有求婚、更名、挑选日子和举行婚礼这些步骤。随着整个社会的进步，婚姻制度也在悄然改变。因此，有必要了解一些外国的婚礼文化。本文旨在通过分析不同的婚姻体制、宗教信仰、地理因素和价值取向对中国婚姻和外国婚姻做一些比较。将对中国婚姻和外国婚姻在婚姻体制、宗教信仰、地理因素和价值取向方面进行分析和比较。通过比较重新审视当代婚姻现状,了解现代人们对待婚姻的价值观新的见解和认识。关键词婚姻;婚礼;婚礼文化;现代婚姻;比较CONTENTSTOC\o"1-3"\h\uAbstract IContents III1.Introduction 12.ChineseWeddingCustom 12.1SixEtiquettes 22.1.1RequestForMarryingtheBride 22.1.2RequestforBrideandGroom’sBirthDates 22.1.3BridePrice(BetrothalGifts) 32.1.4FormalGiftsfortheBride’sFamily 32.1.5ArrangementofWeddingCeremony 32.1.6WeddingCeremony 32.2ThreeLetters 33.WesternWeddingCulture 43.1AfricanWeddingCustoms 43.2AustrianWeddingCustoms 53.3EuropeanWeddingCustoms 53.3.1RussianMarriageCustoms 63.3.2BritishWeddingCustoms 63.3.3FrenchWeddingCustoms 63.3.4GermanWeddingCustoms 73.3.5AmericanWeddingCustoms 74.DifferencesbetweenChinaandtheWest 84.1DifferentMarriageMedia 84.2DifferenceinFreedomDegree 94.3DifferentMarriagePurpose 94.4DifferentDegreeofEquality 95.ReasonsforDifferences 105.1MarriageSystem 105.2DifferentBeliefs 115.3Geographies 125.4ValueOrientation 126.MarriageCustominModernTimes 137.Conclusion 14References 15Acknowledgements 16IntroductionChinaisoneofthefourancientcountrieswhichwitnessedthesplendidcivilizationsduringthefivethousandyears.SincetheYellowEmperorbuiltHuaxia,descendantsofthedragoncreatedexcellentcultureintheirwonderfulland.WesternEuropeandotherstatesalsohaveobviouscharacteristicsofcultureinthelonghistory.Fromeatinghabitstodressingstyle,fromfestivalairtoeducationbackground,therearenumerousdifferencesbetweenChinaandwesterncountriesinmoderntimes.However,duringthesedifferences,marriageisthefirsthumanrelationsinceancienttimes.InChina,marriageisaconnectionamongcomplexsocialrelationshipandhasalwaysbeentakenseriously.Weddingisakindofceremonycombinestwopeoplewhofallinlovewitheachotherandisadisplaywhichcanprovetheirfaithfullove.Weddingisalwayscarryinghappinessandgivingusalotofindeliblememories.AsChinacarriedoutreformandopeningup,moreandmorecommunicationandexchangesbetweenChinaandforeigncountriestookplace,whichvirtuallyaffectthecultureatmosphere.Itisclearthatdifferentcountrieshavedifferentweddingceremoniesinthebackgroundofdifferentnaturalenvironment,lifestyleandunderstandingaboutlife.Affectedbythosefactors,marriagecustomsindifferentgroupsdifferinvariousforms.ChineseWeddingCustomInoldtimes,marriagesarearrangedsoit’snormalfortheparentstodominatethebride-seekingprocess.Therearesomecircumstanceswherethemarriagehasbeenarrangedwhenboththebrideandthegroomwereveryyoungornotevenborn.Suchkindofmarriagecanevenbedistorted.Therefore,therehavebeenmanytragedies.JustliketheButterflyLoversandPeacockFlyingSoutheastinwhichdepictedtragiclovestory.AfterthefoundingofNewChina,thepeoplebecamemastersandwomengetliberation.Asmarriageisagreateventinone’swholelife,itgivesitsfullautonomytopersonswhoareinvolvedinit.Freelovebecomesareliableguaranteetohappymarriage.Thewaytoselectmatealsochangesalotinmodernsociety,suchasintroductionbyfriends,matrimonialagency,andIfYouAretheOneandsoon. ThetraditionalweddingritualsundertakenbytheChinesehasbeenpracticedsincetheQinDynasty(221–206BC).It’selaborateforthegroom’sfamilytosearchforanidealbrideforthefamily,itisparticularlycomplexforwealthyhouseholdsandyetalsoessentialforpoorhouseholds.Ingeneral,theprocedureofamarriagehassixetiquettesandthreeletters.Eachofthemplaysaveryimportantroleinasuccessfulmarriage.2.1SixEtiquettesChinesemarriagewassystemizedintocustomintheWarringStatesperiod(402-221B.C.).Duetothelonghistory,therearedifferentcustomstofollowindifferentplaces.Althoughtheyaregenerallythesame,visitorsstillgetchancetowitnesstraditionalmarriagesinthecountryside.ItwasveryimportanttofollowabasicprincipleofThreeLettersandSixEtiquettesincetheywereessentialtoamarriage.2.1.1RequestForMarryingtheBrideItissocalledthatmenandwomendonotmarrywithoutmatchmaker.Amatchmakeristhepersonwhotriestohelppeopletheyknowtoformaromanticrelationshiportogetmarried.Afterthegroom’sfamilyhasspottedayounggirlwhomthegroomwantstomarry,thefamilywillfindamatchmakertocommunicatewiththewoman’sfamily.Thisoldladywillassuagetheconflictofinterestsandgeneralembarrassmentswhendiscussingthepossibilityofmarriageonthepartoftwofamilieslargelyunknowntoeachother.Bothsideswilldealwithcertainterms.Ifthatgoessuccessfully,bothfamilieswillproceedtothenextstep.2.1.2RequestforBrideandGroom’sBirthDatesThisisthesecondstepinarrangingamarriage.Uponsuccessfullycompetitionofthepreviousstep,thegroom’sfamilywillrequestforthebride’sfamilyEightLettersthroughthespokeswoman.InChinesecalendar,thereare22lettersthatweusetorepresentdate.TenareknownasTianganandtwelveareDizhi.Twobottlesareusedtorepresenteachofthefollowing:year,month,dayandtime.Altogether,eightletterswillaccuratelyrepresentthebride’sbirthdate.Afterobtainingtheeightlettersofthegroomandpotentialbride,afortunetellerwillbehiredtodeterminewhetherthetwomatcheachother.Ifthereisnothingwrongwiththebride’sbirthdate,thegroom’sfamilywillproceedtothenextstep.Otherwise,therewillbenofurthercontactbetweenthefamiliesandthegroom’sfamilymaylookforanothersuitablebride.2.1.3BridePrice(BetrothalGifts)Giftsinmonetary,furniture,orevenestatetermsarearrangedforthematchmakertopresenttothebride’sfamily,includingtheGiftLetter.2.1.4FormalGiftsfortheBride’sFamilyThetraditionalpurposeofthesegiftsistoshowthesincerityofthetwofamiliesandapromisetotakegoodcareofthebride.Itisawayofshowingrespectandgratitudetotheparents.Andthedifferingtraditionalitemssymbolizemeaningssuchas“wealth”,“abundanceofdescendants”,“sweetandlovingmarriage”,“agoodshelter”andmanymore.2.1.5ArrangementofWeddingCeremonyBeforeweddingceremony,twofamilieswouldarrangeaweddingdayaccordingtoChinesetungshing.Selectinganauspiciousdaytoassureagoodfutureforthecoupleisasimportantasavoidingwhatisbelievedtobeanunluckyday.Insomecasestheremaybenoauspiciousdatesandthecouplewillhavetoreviewtheirpotentialdaterange.2.1.6WeddingCeremonyOnthebigday,boththebrideandthegroom’shousewillbedecoratedinred.Thegroom’sfamilywillsentoutaprocessionofservants,musiciansandacarriagewhichiscarriedbyfourservantstothebride’sfamilytobringthebrideback.Thebridewillthenbebroughttothegroom’shouseandthetwowillperformthemarriageceremonywitnessedbyalltherelativesandfriends.2.2ThreeLettersChinaisatraditionalnationwhichputmoreemphasisonetiquette,courtesy.Themarriageetiquette,withalonghistoryinChina,hasrichmeaningandcompletesystem.Formallettersplayanimportantroleinmarriageevents.Requestletter:Requestletterisaformalletterconfirmingthearrangementofmarriage.Giftsletter:GiftsLetterisalistwhichrecordsthevalueofgiftssenttothebride’sfamily.Weddingletter:Weddingletterisaletterpresentedtothebride’sfamilyonthedayoftheweddingtoconfirmtheactofbringingthebrideintothegroom’sfamily. TheChineseweddingcultureinmodernandcontemporarytimeshasbeenundergoingconstantevolvementsandinnovations,presentingthecharacteristicsofarichcombinationofwesterneasternculturesandbothtraditionandfashion.WesternWeddingCultureWeddingcustomsarevarious,fromAmericatoEurope,fromMiddleEasterntoAfrica.Everyonehassomanysortsofrestrictionsinchoosingapartnerthatitisnotasromanticastraditionalmarriage.Accordingtothewayhumanbeingsinchoosingtheircompanions,therearesnatch,freeloveandcrossmarriage,etc.Someofthesepointswillbefurtherelaborated.3.1AfricanWeddingCustomsTheweddingcustomsoftheAfricannationaredifferentbecauseofdifferentreligionsandethnics.Itishardtofindidenticalweddingceremonyinthoseweddingcustoms.Longandfun-filledwedding:TherearealotofweddingprogramsatSudanesetraditionalwedding,sothatitwilllasttendaystilltheend.Religiousovertoneswedding:Theweddingishostedbyministeringroom’shousewhowillreadQurantobrideandgroom.Weddingwithoutgroom:BerberpeoplewholivedinAlgeriacan’tmeetgroomatawedding.Thereasonisveryhumorous.Thegroomhastoliveseparatelyfromhisparents.Thissituationwilllastthreedaystillhisparentknocksathisdoorandaskhimtomakegoodarrangementsforfamilylife.Peoplewillapplaudforhimandblesshimwhengroomgoesoutofnewroom.3.2AustrianWeddingCustomsInthepastthemarriageproposalwasamoreformalprocedure,theprospectivegroomsenthisfriendsormembersofthefamilytorepresenthisinteresttotheprospectivebrideandherfamily.Iftheysawablindman,amonkorapregnantwomenorwolvesthesewouldbegoodomenswhichwouldbringgoodfortunetothemarriage.Traditionally,bridehadbeenthoughttobeparticularlyvulnerabletoevilspiritsandmanyoftheculturesassociatedwithweddingaretobeprotectedbylocalpeople.Andbridesmaidsweredressedinasimilarwaytothebride.Thebridesmaidsactasdecoystoconfuseevilspiritsandthusprotectthebirds.AlthoughmostweddingceremoniestakeplaceonSaturday,itisconsideredunluckyinthepast.FridaywasalsoconsideredunluckyparticularlyFridaythe13th.Thefamousoldrhythmadvisesaweddinginthefirsthalfoftheweek:Mondayforwealth,Tuesdayforhealth,Wednesdayforthebestdayofall,Thursdayforlosses,Fridayforcrosses,Saturdayfornoluckatall.What’smore,inthemiddleAustraliaandthenortharidregionaswellastheborderdistrict,thereareaboriginesoccupying1%oftheAustraliapopulation.Theydon’tknowmuchabouttheagricultureandthestockbreeding,livingaprimitivelifeincludingcollectingwildplantsandhunting,andkeepingtheancientmannersandcustoms,theirweddingcustomsismorespecific.Foraborigines,themostimportantthingistodressupwithsomedecorations.Theirdressisverysimple,justcoverthewaistwithapieceofdoth,nearlynaked,buttheirdecorationsarereallycomplicated.3.3EuropeanWeddingCustomsOneoftheancienttraditionsofEuropeanweddingwhichisstillpopulartodayistheengagementring.ManyofourmostenduringwesternEuropeanweddingculturebeganinEngland.Also,wecanseesomeofothercountriesinEurope.3.3.1RussianMarriageCustomsRussianweddingcustomsarealittlesimilartoChina.Accordingtotheirtraditionalcustoms,groom’sparentsormatchmakerwillcommunicatewithbride’sfamily.Ifbride’sfamilyagreeswiththismarriage,theengagementisdone.Andafterbothofthefamiliesdealwithitproperly,theybegintomakepreparationforbigweddingceremony.Thebridehastosaygoodbyetoherbedroombeforesheattendswedding.Ifherrelativesaredeadshehastogototombstomakeleave-taking.Ontheweddingday,groomwillmeetgroomwithhisfriendsandpreparetwocarriages,oneforthenewcoupleandoneforbride’sfamilymembers.3.3.2BritishWeddingCustomsThemajorityfamiliesintheUKhavelegalmarriages.Andmostofweddingceremonyishostedinthechurch.ManyofourenduringwesternEuropeanweddingculturescomefromEngland.Theweddingtraditionincludingsomethingold,somethingnew,somethingborrowed,somethingbluehasexistedabouthundredsofyears,eventhoughmanybridesandgroomsnolongerknowthesignificanceofthetradition. Afterlovers’feelinggetsstrong,theycanannouncetogetmarried.Thegroomhastobuyweddingringwhichwillbeputonbride’smiddlefingerofthelefthand.Brideandherweddingpartyalwayswalktogethertothechurch.Alittlegirlleadstheprocession,strewingblossomsalongtheroad,sothebride’spathoflifewillalwaysbehappyandladenwithflowers.Usually,apartywillbeheldaftertheweddingceremonyandthedinnercanbesimpleorcomplex.Howeverabigcakeisindispensablewhichwillbecutbybrideforthefirsttime. Honeymoonisaperiodofharmonyimmediatelyaftertheweddingceremony.Honeymoonisoneofthemostimportantcontents.Britishpaymuchattentiontoweddinganniversaryandgiveeachaname,suchassilverweddingfor25years,goldweddingfor50yearsanddiamondweddingfor75years.3.3.3FrenchWeddingCustomsFrenchhasalwaysbeensynonymouswithromance.WhiteisthemaincolorofromanticFrenchwedding.Thepopularityofabridewearingawhiteweddinggownonherdayofmatrimony,beganinFranceseveralhundredyearsago.Eitherflowersorthelayoutisdecoratedwithwhitecolor.WeddinginFrancewillbeheldtwice.InParis,weddingwillbefreeonTuesday,ThursdayandSaturday.Oritwillbechargedforlocalcharities.Atthewedding,onecan’tkissbrideexceptherownfriendsandrelatives.TheproverbinFrancegoeslikethatpassionwillnotlastlong,butmarriagewill.Soonceyoustepintothemarriage,pleasecherishyourhard-wonhappinessandenjoythewonderfultimewithyourlover.3.3.4GermanWeddingCustomsGermanweddingincorporatessomeweirdcustoms.Beforethenightofwedding,allthefriendsandrelativeswillsmashaceramicpotinfrontofthehoneymoonapartment.Itissaidthatthesoundofbreakingwilldriveawaymonsterandbringendlesshappiness.Asanoldsayinggoesthathappinessisjustlikeglass.Theideabehindsuchcustomisthatcleaningtheheapofshattereddishestogetherwouldpreparethecouplefortheirnewlifetogether.ThethrowingofriceisanancientcustomofGermanweddingpassingonfromonegenerationtoanother.Whileleavingthechurch,thenewlywedsaredelugedinrice.Thericestickingtothehairofthebirdsisbelievedtoindicatefutureprogeny.3.3.5AmericanWeddingCustomsAmericanweddingtraditionsareahodgepodgethatoriginatesfromothercountries.Beingaveritableblendofpeople,theU.S.isamixtureofdifferentcultures,religionsandcustoms.However,thereareseveralthingsU.S.weddingshaveincommon,andthesearethethingsthathavebecometraditioninAmerica.Americanweddingsarenotarrangedforthebenefitofeitherfamily.Acouplegetsengagedandmarriedoutofloveforeachotherandbecauseofthedesiretospendtherestoftheirlivestogether.Theirmarriageisacommitmenttooneanother.Traditionally,weddingsareusuallyconductedasareligiousceremonyintheUnitedStates,howevertheycanbeperformedasacivilunionaswell.Mostweddingstakeplaceinachurchorchapel.Guests,familyandfriendsofthebrideandgroomareformallyinvitedtoattendtheceremonyandreception.Duringtheceremony,thebrideandgroomwillrecitevowstoeachother,expressingtheircommitmenttotheGod.Thevowsmaybethestandard“Ipromisetoloveyou...tilldeathseparateus”,orthebrideandgroommaychoosetowritetheirownvowstoeachother.Inthevows,eachpersonmakesapromisetobeloyal,supportive,andtolovetheotherfortherestoftheirlife.Attheendoftheceremony,thepriest,pastor,orJusticeofthePeacewillannouncetothegroom“Youmaykissthebride.”Thentheagreementissealedwithakiss,andthecoupleisannouncedasMr.andMrs.Groom’slastname.IntheRomanera,akisswasawaytosealalegalagreement,thereforeakissattheendofaweddingisanagreementbetweenthebrideandgroomofalifetimecommitmenttotheirnewfamily.Americanisanopencountrywhichwillnotagainstindividuation.Nowadays,someyoungpeoplewouldliketochoosetheiruniqueweddingceremony.Theyenjoybeautifulscenerybygoingtopark,forests,beaches,andtopofmountains.Theydrawtheirmemorablehappinesschapterbyusingmostfancyandparticularway.DifferencesbetweenChinaandtheWestItisclearthatChinesemarriagecustomandwesternmarriagecustomdifferfromeachotherinmanyaspects.Differentcultureleadstodifferentkindofmarriage.Weallheard“Threeobedienceandfourvirtues”whichrulewomenshouldbecomeanappendagetothemenandbesubordinatedtothefamilyinterestinTraditionalChinesemarriage.Itwasalsocharacteristiclyinfluencedbystrongfeudalpolicyculture.Incontrast,inwesternmarriagecustom,menhavelegalrighttochoosewhomtheywantedtomarry,andthisisthesamewithwomen.4.1DifferentMarriageMediaInChina,matchmakerhasthedominantpositioninmarriage.First,ineveryprocessinmarriageinoldtimes,itwasthematchwhointroducedamantoawoman,orawomantoaman.Withouttheintroductionfrommatchmaker,theywouldnotknowabouteachother.ToChristians’opinions,weddingceremonyisconsideredasanimportantwaytogetGod’sblessingandweddingceremonyisanimportantpartofmarriage.Marriagewillnotbevalidunlessunderthetestimonybypriest.PriestisaclergymaninChristianchurcheswhohastheauthoritytoperform.IntheTVdramaprogramDowntonAbbey,wecanseeclearlythathowthevicarhostweddingceremonyandtheweddingprocedure.Nowadays,thematchmakerstillhassomefunctionsinmarriageinterview.Priestalsoplaysanessentialroleinawedding.Morepeopletendtochoosepriestforthesakeofromance.4.2DifferenceinFreedomDegreeMoststatesrequireregistrationofmarriageintheUnitedStates,regardlessofgender,thepersonshouldbeatleast18yearsold.Ifthepersonover16yearsofagebutunder18yearsofagewanttomarry,heorshemusthavethepermissionoftheirparents.However,China’sMarriageLawstipulatesthatregistrationofmarriageageinChinashouldnotlessthan22yearsold,andwomannolessthan20yearsold.InolddaysofChina,italsocanbeseenprenatalbetrothal.What’smore,parentswouldmarrytheirlittlechildrenaccordingtotheirrelationshipwithanotherfamily.ThisphenomenonisnotcommonintheWest.4.3DifferentMarriagePurposeDifferentpurposeofmarriageleadstoobviousdifferencesinmatechoice.Theaimsofweddingarequitedifferent.Chinesetakemarriageas“jointthetwofamiliestogetherfortheancestorandfortheoffspring”,inordertobringmorefameandmakethefamilieslargerandlarger.Oneofthemostimportantstepsistoseeifthegirlandboyarefittoeachotherbycheckingtheirbirthdays.Also,Chinesepeoplepaymuchattentiontotheperfectmatch,suchasfamilybackground,wealthandeducationlevel.Britishpeoplepaymoreattentiontolove.Theaimofweddingistomaketheloverslivingtogetherforever,soitisaprivateaffairmorethanthefamily’s.WesternpeopleregardmarriageastheGod’swill.Andtheycouldn’tseetheirhusbandbeforethatnightuntiltheymarried.4.4DifferentDegreeofEqualityChinesewomenhavepsychologicaldependenceonmenwhilewesternwomenhavestrongindependentpersonality.Theissueofequalitybetweenmenandwomensinceancienttimesdidnotstopstruggling.Astothefightforequalityandindependence,peoplefromwesterncountrieshavemademoreeffortthanChinesedid.InThePeacocksFlytotheSoutheast,LiuLanzhiwasdrivenoutbythemother-in-lawandaskedtomarryanothermanbyherbrother.Sherefusedtoobeyherbrother’sorderandcommittedsuicideintheend.Thestoryfullydisclosesthelowsocialstatusofwomen.Incontrast,inthebookTheRedandtheBlack,Mayor’swifefallsinlovewithatutorwhoistenyearsyoungerthanher.Ingeneral,infaceofmarriage,thewesternwomenpaymoreattentionto“howcanIdo”WhileChinesepayattentionto“whatshouldIdo”.ReasonsforDifferences5.1MarriageSystemTheearliestwesternmarriagelegendcomesfromthestoryofAdamandEve’smarriage.“AlthoughAdamhadeverythinghewantedintheGardenofEden,godstillfeltthatthemanneededapartnerlikehimtobefullycomplete.SohecreatedthefirstwomanEvetobeAdam’slifepartner”.Fromthissentences,wecanseethatGodhimselfbecomesthefirstmatchmakerwhowitnessesthefirstcoupleinthehistory.WesternsocietyistheslaveofGodcommunity.CommunitybeforeChristBCdidnotseemtohavemarriageawareness.Monarchshadmorethanonewife.Forexample,JewishKingDavidbuilthugeharemandfamousJuliusCaesarmarriedCleopatra.Bothofthemownmorethantwowives.However,EuropeansneverexplicitlyadmitthelegitimacyofpolygamyincludingancientGreeceorRome.SinceChristianbecameprevailing,Monogamytendedtobeacceptedbymostpeoplegradually.ButinChina,Monogamyhadtookshapeasearlyasthe20thcenturyBC.Strictlyspeaking,itiscalledmonogamy(theusualpracticeofmanyconcubines)whichstretcheswithoutabreakandlastedfourthousandyears.ThefourChineselovestorySevenfairiesandDongyong,CowherdandWeaver,XuXianandtheWhiteSnakeandButterflyLovers,withoutnoexception,arestoriesaboutprincessorarichgirlanddéclassépoorboy.NotonlyChina,butalsoothercountriesinAsiaobeythisrulespontaneouslysuchasIndia,Mongolia,KoreaandJapan.Butthedetailisnotthesame.MuslimswhobelieveinIslamarestillaminorityadhereto“polygamy”. Aftertheimplementationofmonogamy,peopleseemtomaintaindecentmarriagebecauseChristianitydoesnotallowtodivorce,infacttheycannotstoptheproliferationofextramaritallove.AlthoughWesterncountriesarealsothepatriarchalsociety,butwomeninmarriagenearlyenjoyequalrightswithmen.ThemedievalknightcultureinWesterncountriesresultedinextensivelyusingofthewords“lover”,“mistress”.IfsuchcasehappensinChina,itwascalled“adultery”definedasacrimewhichcanbesentencedtocapitalpunishmentincertaindynasties.Notuntilabouttheeighteenthcentury,thedivorcewasapprovedbytheState,theproportionofextramaritallovedecreased. ComparedwithEurope,mostChinesemenarekings.Notonlyimperialfamilyandnobility,butalsoofficialsandbusinessmencanmarrywifepublicly.SomereflectionscanbefoundfromChineseclassicmasterpieceADreamofRedMansions.5.2DifferentBeliefsReligionisalsoanimportantfactor.ReligioninChinahaschangedwidelysincethebeginningofChinesehistory.Ithasaquiteimportantaffectionontheweddingceremonies.MahayanaBuddhismremainsthelargestorganizedreligioninChinasinceitsintroductioninthe1stcentury.InChina,wecanseethattheweddingceremonymustobeyitsowndetailedfo