浅析当代中西方婚俗文化的差异及原因

福州大学本科生毕业论文PAGE18PAGE16ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\u4680ChineseAbstract 2English12856Abstract 366231.Introduction 510111.1DefinitionofRelatedImportantConcepts 5105421.2TheSignificanceoftheResearch 6295442.LiteratureReview 669222.1ChineseMarriageCustoms 6120702.2WesternMarriageCustoms 8143263.TheDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternMarriageCulture 9234343.1PremaritalPreparation 9300703.2WeddingProcess 1017004.ReasonsfortheDifferencesAbove 13123374.1PhilosophicViews 1314314.2ReligiousBeliefs 14232604.3EconomicSystem 1473785.Conclusion 1520908References 17

浅析当代中西方婚俗文化的差异及原因摘要文化作为一种历史现象，包括信仰、价值观、风俗、社会体系等，其发展具有继承性、阶级性、民族性和地域性。婚俗作为传统文化的重要组成部分，随着时间的推移，受不同文化和地域的影响，逐渐形成自己的特色。在全球化成为必然趋势的大环境下，各国之间的文化交流日益频繁。中国逐渐被世界了解的同时，也经受着外来文化的冲击。中西方不断碰撞、融合，婚俗文化也必然经历不断的变化。现代中西方婚礼上相同的因素越来越多，差异与导致差异的因素也与以往不同。本文以当代中西方婚俗文化为研究对象，从中西方婚礼前的准备与婚礼仪式两大方面的不同，研究中西方婚俗文化之间的差异，以及产生这种差异的原因。婚俗作为传统文化的体现，在差异的现象背后蕴含着深刻的文化背景。本文旨在使读者可以更好地了解中西婚俗文化，加深对中西文化差异的认识，为更好的跨文化交流打下基础。关键词：中国婚俗文化；西方婚俗文化；差异；原因ABriefAnalysisoftheDifferencesBetweenContemporaryChineseandWesternWeddingCustomsandtheReasonsBehindAbstractAsahistoricalphenomenon,cultureincludesbeliefs,values,customsandsocialsystemsandsoon,anditsdevelopmentischaracterizedbyinheritance,class,nationalityandregion.Beinganimportantpartoftraditionalculture,marriagecustomshavegraduallyformedtheirowncharacteristicswiththepassageoftime,andinfluenceofdifferentculturesandregions.Undertheinevitabletrendofglobalization,culturalexchangesbetweencountriesareincreasinglyfrequent.AsChinaisgraduallyknowntotheworld,itisalsoexperiencingtheimpactofforeigncultures.WiththeconstantculturalcollisionandintegrationbetweenChinaandthewest,themarriagecultureofeachcountryisboundtoexperienceconstantchanges.TherearemoreandmoresimilarfactorsinmodernChineseandwesternweddings.Differencesandthefactorsthatcausethesedifferencesarealsodifferent.ThispapertakesthecontemporaryChineseandwesternmarriagecustomcultureastheresearchobject.ItstudiesthedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternweddingpreparationandweddingceremony,andthereasonsforthedifferences.Astheembodimentoftraditionalculture,marriagecustomscontainprofoundculturalbackgroundbehindthephenomenonofdifferences.ThispaperisaimedtohelpreadersbetterunderstandthemarriagecultureofChinaandthewest,deepentheirunderstandingoftheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandthewest,andlayagoodfoundationforbettercross-culturalcommunication.Keywords:Chinesemarriageculture;Westernmarriageculture;differences;reasons

1.IntroductionChina,anancientcivilizedcountrywithahistoryofmorethan5,000years,itsmarriagecustomcultureplaysanimportantroleinthetraditionalculture.“Eatinganddressing,theadmirationbetweenmenandwomen,arethetwobiggestandmostbasicdesiresamonghuman”,arguedMencius,oneofthemostimportantConfucianphilosophersintheancientChina(杨伯峻，2008：22).Thatis,theancientsputmarriageanddietincomparableposition,asthetwomajorhumanmust-do.Theybelievethatmarriageisthetoppriorityforhumansurvivalandreproduction.Therefore,asanimportantceremonytoenterthemarriage,theweddingalsohasanirreplaceablepositionandinfluenceinthenationalculture.DefinitionofRelatedImportantConcepts1.1.1MarriageCustomsandMarriageCustomCultureMarriagecustoms,thatis,marriageetiquette,areimportantetiquettecustomsthatarefeltinlifeduringthemultiplicationanddevelopmentofhumanlife.Marriageasafolkphenomenonincludestwoaspects:marriageformandmarriageetiquette.Themarriageetiquetteisheldonthepremiseofthemarriagerelationshiprecognizedbythesociety,anditistherecognitionofthemarriagerelationshipbythepeople.Theformofmarriagediffersduetodifferencesinthepre-maritalrelationship,matingconditions,residenceaftermarriage,andallrightsandobligationsofthemanandthewoman.Differentformsofmarriageformdifferencesinetiquetteandcustomsintheprocessofmarriage(夏征农,陈至立,2012).Theso-calledmarriagecustomreferstotheculturalphenomenonformedaroundtheloveandmarriageofpeople.Marriagecustomcultureisnotonlyapartofhumancivilizationandhumanculture,butalsoalinkandaspecialforminthedevelopmentchainofhumancivilizationandhumanculture.Afterlong-termdevelopmentandinheritance,andafterthechangesofthetimes,marriagecustomsculturehasbeenrootedinvariousnationalculturesasauniqueculturalphenomenon.Theresearchonthemarriagecustomsculturehasprofoundandfar-reachingsignificanceforunderstandingthedevelopmentoftheentirenation.1.1.2Significationof“Chinese”and“theWesterns”ThereisnodoubtthattheChinesemarriagecultureinthispaperonlyreferstothemarriagecultureandphenomenonexistinginallregionsandethnicgroupsofChina.Theopposite“West”isnotthegeographical“West”countryoppositetoChina’s“East”.WhenwecomparethemarriagecustomcultureofChinesestyleandWesternstyle,itreferstothewesterncountriesdividedaccordingtotheculturalbackgroundandpoliticalsystem.Intermsofculturalbackground,ChinamostlybelievesinConfucianism,whilewesterncountriesmostlybelieveinChristianity.Intermsofpoliticalsystem,westerncountriesconsiderthemselvestoimplementdemocraticsystem.Accordingtothetraditionaldivision,RussiaandJapanaretwospecialpowers.Russiabelongstothebranchofwesterncultureinculturalbackground,butbecauseofitspoliticalsystem,ithasnotbeenrecognizedbywesterncountries.AlthoughJapanbelongstotheEastgeographically,itisalsoconsideredasawesterncountrybecauseofitscapitalistpoliticalsystem.Suchspecialcircumstancesarenotincludedinthediscussioninthispaper,thatis,thewesternmarriageculturediscussedinthispaperiswidelyacceptedbythepublicinthetraditionalsense,suchasthemarriagecultureintheUnitedStates,Britain,FranceandotherEuropeancountries.1.2TheSignificanceoftheResearchExistingresearchonChineseandWesternmarriagecustomsstillhascertainlimitations.Someresearchershaveonlyconductedrelevantresearchesonthestudyofmarriagecustomsandetiquettecultureinarepresentativeregion,oronlyselectedoneaspectofChineseandWesternmarriagecustomsculturesuchasceremony,dress,colorandotherin-depthanalysisandresearch.FewofthesestudiescomprehensivelycomparethedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternmarriageculturesandthereasonsbehind.Inordertoexplorethereasonsbehindit,thisarticlewillcomprehensivelyelaborateandcomparethepreparationsbeforethewedding,theweddingceremonyandtheweddingcustomcultureafterthewedding,andanalyzethesimilaritiesanddifferencesreflectedinthemandthereasons,whichhaveimportantpracticalresearchsignificance.It’shopedthatthereaderscanunderstandthemarriagecultureofChinaandthewestbetter,layagoodfoundationforfuturecross-culturalcommunication.LiteratureReview2.1ChineseMarriageCustomsMarriageisaveryimportantlinkinthelifepath.Asacountryofritesandceremonies,Chinahashadmanyritualsandproceduresfortheconfirmationofmarriagerelationshipsinceancienttimes(庄雯莎,2017).Inmarriagecustomculture,theroleoftraditionalculturecannotbeignored(曹萍,2017).ChoosingaspouseinancientChinaisgenerallynotsomethingthatyoucanchooseanddecide.It’sabout‘thefateofyourparents,theadviceofthematchmaker’,andit’sbettertochoosetheotherhalfinamarriagebetweenfamiliesofequalsocialrank.InChina,itisnecessaryfortheparentsofthemantofindthematchmaker,andthenexplaintherequirementsandfamilyconditionsofthemantothematchmaker,sothatthematchmakercanmatchtherightobjectforthemanaccordingtotherequirementsofthemanandrecommendittothewoman’sfamily.Thisprocessisameetingofbothparents,notinvolvingthecouplegettingmarried.Thetwofamilieswillgiveeachothertokensoftheirengagementiftheythinkit’srightforeachother.Ceremonyisanindispensablepartofawedding(王敏,2019).AnimportantceremonyduringancientChineseweddingsis“thethreeworships”.Atthebeginningofthethreebows,peopleusuallylightcandles,setofffirecrackersandplaymusic..Atthistime,thebrideandgroomwalkintotheroomtogetherandstandinfrontofthemale’sparentsforthethreebowsceremony.Firstly,theybowtotheskyandtheground,whichrepresentstheworshipofgods.Thentheybowtoparentsofgroom,whichistheembodimentoffilialpietyvaluedbyChinesepeople.Finally,thebrideandgroombowtoeachother,whichmeansthathusbandandwifeshouldrespecteachotherasguests.Aftertheweddingceremony,thebridewillbesenttothebridalchambertowaitforthegroom.Thebridegroomwillgotothebanquettoreceivetheblessingsofotherrelativesandfriends,andproposeatoasttothem.InMay1950,themarriagelawwaspromulgated,whichannouncedtheabolitionofthefeudalarrangedmarriages,whichformedawaveofanti-feudalmarriagesthroughoutthecountry.Duringthe17yearssincethefoundingofNewChinatothebeginningofthe“CulturalRevolution”,themarriagecustomsfocusedonpoliticalfactorsandpoliticalelements.Theestablishmentofanewsocietyhasundergonecorrespondingreformsandchangesinthemarriagecustoms,eliminatingtheredtapeoftraditionalweddingsandsimplifyingtheweddingceremony.Sincethereformandopening-uppolicy,Chinahasundergonetremendouschanges,andmarriagecustomshavealsoundergoneunprecedentedchanges.Intheviewofspouse-selection,politicalfactorsarenolongerthetoppriority,andeconomic,educational,andculturalfactorsaregraduallyplacedinanimportantposition.Payingattentiontothepersonality,characterandhobbiesofeachotherhasbecomeanimportantpartofpeople’sspouseselection(徐安琪,2000).Folksongssuchas“Girlsloveheroesinthe1950sandcadresinthe1960s,thentheyloveworkersandpeasantsinthe1970sandlovescholarsinthe1980s,whilegirlsinthe1990slovesugardaddy”arepopularinShanghai,whichvividlyreflectsthechangesinthespouseselectionstandardsofyoungwomeninbigcitiessincethefoundingofthePeople’sRepublicofChina(邓伟志&胡申生,2007).ContemporaryChinesemarriageandlovecustomsarediverseandinclusive,andfreedomofmarriageandlovehasbecomeamajorfeatureofthetransformationofmarriagecustomsinNewChina,whetheritisfromspouseselection,love,engagement,marriage,ordivorce.Manymodernfactorshavealsobeenaddedtothemarriagecustoms.Newspapersandtelevisionsbegantopublishadvertisementsformarriagequotations(薛颖旦,1998).Intheearly1990s,BeijingTVlaunchedthefirstTVprogramdesignedspecificallyformarriagehiring.Atthesametime,marriageagenciesbegantospreadalloverthemajorcities,becomingthenewfashionofmarriageatthattime(刘新平,2001).Afterenteringthe21stcentury,withtheopeningofideasandtherapiddevelopmentofscienceandtechnology,fraternityclubs,blinddateclubs,datingsoftware,etc.haveprovidedyoungmenandwomenwithmorewaysandopportunitiestomeetandfallinlove.2.2WesternMarriageCustomsComparedwithChina,westernerschoosetheirspousesmorefreely.ThefreedomofloveisadvocatedintheWest.ThechoiceofspouseandmarriageintheWestarebasedonlove.ThewesternmarriageethicsoriginatedfromtheintegrationofGreekcultureandHebrewChristianculture,whichdevelopedintothemodernethicalrelationshipoffreelove.Therefore,nomatterthebirth,family,age,socialstatusandotherfactorsofeachother,thetwosidesinlovestarttocommunicateaslongastheylikeeachother(黄玟,2019).Inwesterncountries,marriagepaysmoreattentiontothemaximumdisplayofone’sfreewill,whichiscompletelyselectedaccordingtoone’srealyearning.Twopeoplemeettoknoweachother,attracteachother,pursueeachother,andclingtoeachotheruntiltheyareinseparable.Therefore,theyarewillingtogivethemselvestoeachotherandformafamilytogetherunderamutuallycommittedmarriage.Theyareeagertopayforloveandsacrificeformarriage.WesterncountriesaremainlyChristian,somostweddingsinwesterncountriesareheldinchurches.Thepersonwhopresidesovertheweddingisusuallyapriest.Theimportantceremonyoftheweddingistoswearandexchangeweddingrings.TheweddingisintheformofQuestion&Answer.Thepriestwillsaythewordstothebrideandgroom,“Doyouwantthisman(woman)tobecomeyourhusband(wife)tomarryhim?Lovehimorher,takecareofhimorher,respecthimorher,accepthimorher,andremainfaithfultohimorheruntiltheendofhisorherlife,forsicknessorhealthorforanyotherreason?”Ifbothsidesanswer“Yes,Ido”,theycanexchangeweddingringsandthegroomcankissthebride.Infact,intheChristianconcept,marriageisagiftfromGod,sotheirmarriageisunconditionalcommitmenttoeachother,notbasedonreciprocity.AndinEncyclopediaBritannica,marriageisdefinedas“thelegalunionofamanandwife,andinsomejurisdictionsbetweentwopersonsofthesamesex,usuallyentailinglegalobligationsofeachpersontotheother”(2003).DifferentfromthebustleofChineseweddings,thewesternweddingceremonyismoresolemnandquiet.Ontheweddingday,theweddingmarchplayedbythechurchissoftandpeaceful.Whenthemusiccomeson,thewholechurchisveryquiet.Nosoundcanbeheardexceptmusic.Theweddingisgoingoninaspecialsolemnatmosphere.Inwesterncountries,theresultoflovebetweenyoungmenandwomenloveistogetmarried.Thepurposeoftheirmarriageistokeepthetwosidestogetherforeverandtoliveabetterlifetogether.Therefore,whenchoosingamarriagepartner,mostWesternerspaymoreattentiontothefeelingsofbothsidesratherthanthefamilyinterests.ComparedwiththeyoungpeopleinChina,theyoungpeopleinwesterncountriesaremorewillingtoexpresstheirtrueideasandshowthemselvesinsocialoccasions.Theydon’tneedparentsormatchmakers.Theyaremoreinclinedtomeetnewloversintheirstudy,lifeandwork,suchashighschoolstudents’clubsorsummercampactivities,collegestudents’fraternities,largeparties,etc.Duetothedifferentdevelopmentspeedoftechnology,socialnetworkandmobilechatsoftwarehavebecomeoneoftheirimportantsocialchannelsearlierthaninChina.TheDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternMarriageCultureThroughtheabovebriefoverviewofChineseandwesternmarriagecustoms,wehaveseenthattherearesignificantdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternmarriagecustomscultureinallaspects.Next,theauthorwillmakeamoresystematicelaborationthroughthepreparationbeforemarriageandthespecificweddingceremony,inordertocarryonthethoroughcontrasttothedifferenceamongthem.3.1PremaritalPreparation3.1.1TheChoosingofaSpouseIncontemporaryChina,youngpeoplehavegreaterfreedomandautonomyintheirmarriagechoicesthaninthefeudaleraandeventhebeginningoftheperiodofreformandopeningup.Theynolongerblindlyfollowthematchmaker’sintroductionandobeytheirparents’orders.However,manyfamiliesstillpaymoreattentionto“well-matchedmarriage”,thatis,themarriageofbothmenandwomen’swork,socialstatus,andeveneducationandsalaryshouldbeinthesamelevel,evenformenandwomen’sfamilybackground,regionalenvironment,educationlevel,workunitsandpositionshavecertainrequirements.Althoughmostcontemporaryparentsnolongerhavethedecisivesayonthechild’smarriage,theoppositionofparentswillstillbeaconsiderableobstacle.IntraditionalChineseculture,obtainingthespiritualandthematerialsupportoftheirparentsduringmarriageisofgreatsignificancetocontemporaryChineseyouth.UnlikethesituationinChina,youngpeopleinWesterncountrieshavebasicallylivedindependentlysincetheywereadults,bothpsychologicallyandmaterially.Atthesametime,lowerparticipationofparentsintheirchildren’sprivatelifemeansthatwesternyoungpeoplecanchoosetheirspousefreely.InChina,marriageisnotjustarelationshipbetweentwoindividuals,butarelationshipbetweentwofamiliesorevenaclan.Butformostyoungpeopleinthewest,marriageismoreamatterofpersonalchoiceandlessabouttheirfamilies.TheybelievethatmarriageisagiftfromGod,andevenparentscannotdeprivethisright.Ofcourse,youngmenandwomenalsoneedtomeettheirparentsandgettheirblessingbeforetheygetmarried,butmostoftheirparentsrespecttheirchildren’schoiceswithoutundueinterference.3.1.2ProposingWiththedevelopmentofcultureandeconomy,thetraditionofweddingcustomsincontemporaryChinaistosimplifythetediousmattersbeforetheweddingasmuchaspossible.“Whilethroughtheevolutionofhistory,thesixetiquettehasbeensimplified”(史前前，2013：5).Inrecentyears,duetothedomesticpublicopinionorientationandmoreopenculturalatmosphere,manyromanticyoungpeoplewillalsopainstakinglyholdmarriageproposalceremonies,andmoreyoungpeoplearemoreinclinedtothetraditionalway,thatis,bothmenandwomenandtwoelders(mostlyparents)discussthemarriagetogetherandreachanagreementbeforetoputtheweddingontheagenda.However,althoughthebride’sbetrothalpresentsandthewoman’sdowryhaveundergonechangesinformandcontent,thisprocessisstillarepresentativeproductofChinesemarriagecustoms.Inwesternweddingcustoms,marriageproposalandengagementaretwoveryceremonialprocesses,andeventhesolemnityoftheengagementceremonycanbecomparabletotheformalweddingceremony.Afterestablishingtherelationship,themanwillaskthewomanifshewouldmarryhiminaformalandromanticway,justaswhatwecanseeinmoviesandTVs.Althoughtheresultseemsdefinite,it’snecessarytoamarriage.Ifthewomanagrees,theproposalsucceedsandtheycanholdasimplepartyfortheengagementtotelltheirfriendsandrelativesthegoodnews.Afterall,theycanprepareforweddingceremony.OneinterestingpointisthatChinesemarriagecustomsaremorecomplicatedtopreparebeforemarriagethanWesternmarriagecustoms,itmaybebecauseoftheimplicitnessoftraditionalChineseculture.3.2WeddingProcess3.2.1WeddingCeremonyInChinesetraditionalmarriagecustoms,theweddingismainlycomposedoftakingthebridefromthebride’sparents’houseandperformingaformalweddingceremony.InmodernChina,somepeoplestillchoosetocompletetheirweddingceremonyinatraditionalway.Peopleneedtogetupearlytodopreparations.“Afterthebrideputtingonmakeupandchangingherdress,thebridegroomwillbringthebridebacktothebridegroom’shome,theywillstarttheceremonyinaauspicioushour”(史前前，2013：5).Themainriteintheceremonyis“thebowingtotheHeavenandEarth”,whichmeansthecouplehavegotthepermissionandblessingsofheavenandearthandtheirancestors.Nowadays,moreandmoreyoungcouples’ceremonyareheldinawesternway.Thethreeworshipshavebeentakenplaced.Theymainlygivespeechesandalsosay“yes”tothequestionsaskedbytheweddinghost,andreceiveblessingsfromguests’applauseandcheers.WesternersbelieveinChristianity.Theyusuallyarrangetheweddinginachurch,withapriestorFatherofficiating.Inwesternmarriagecustoms,thestepsoftheweddingceremonyarefixedandcannotbechanged.Ontheweddingday,thebrideandgroom,theirparents,bestmanandbridesmaids,relativesandfriendsarriveatthechurchontime.Theweddingbeginsandthegroomwaitsforhisbrideinfrontofthechurch.Thebride,accompaniedbyherfather,willwalkintothechurchandherfatherhandsherovertothegroom,duringwhichthepriestorFatherwillblessthecouple.Thebrideandgroom,accompaniedbythebestmanandbridesmaids,walktothealtarandpromisetolove,honorandcherisheachotherforricherandforpoorer,insicknessandinhealth,untildeath.Withondisapproveofothersandthebestwishesofpeoplearound,thenewlywedswillthenaccompaniedbytheirclosestrelativesandkeyguestsandregisterintheprayerroombehindthealtar.Theweddingceremonyofficiallyendedwhenthebrideandgroomwalkoutofthechurchhandinhand.Generallyspeaking,westernweddingceremoniesaresimpleandromantic,thewholeceremonywassacredandsolemnunderthereligiousrendering.Fromabove,itvanbeseemthatChineseweddingceremonyfocusmoreonthesenseofhappiness.What’smore,inordertomaintainahappyatmosphere,cheerfulmusicsareessential,whichseemsaliveandjoyful.Whilewesternweddingceremonyissolemnandreligiousanditcreatesaromanticatmosphere.3.2.2WeddingDressWecanusetwocolorstodescribewesternandChineseWeddingrespectively:whiteandred.InChina,redsymbolizesgoodfortuneandprosperity,whilewhiteweddingsrepresentpurity,loyalty,beauty,andsacrednessinWest,whichmeansGodspillsloveintotheworld.(陈娟,2013).ModernChineseweddingdressmainlyincludestwotypes.Onetypeistraditionaloldfashionedweddingdressessuchasachapletandofficialrobes,cheongsam,Tangsuitandsoon.Thecolorofthesedressesaremainlyred,whichisregardedasthecolorofauspiciousnessandhappiness.Withthesignofculturalexchange,anothertypeofweddingdresses,westernweddingdressesaregettingmoreandmorepopularinChina.ModernChineseweddingsareinfluencedbywesternweddingcustoms.Thebridealsowearsawhiteweddingdress,butchangesintoareddressattheweddingreceptionafterthewedding,whichshowsredisalwaystherightcolortobechoseninthejoyfulatmosphere.Inthewest,whiteisthemaincolorofwesternwedding.In1840,thewhiteweddingdresswornbyqueenVictoriaofEnglandestablishedthesolidstatusofthewhiteweddingdressasamodernweddingdress.Inthewesternwedding,thebride’sweddingdressesaremostlypurewhite,andthebridegroom’sdressesaremainlysuits.Thewesternweddingdressismainlywhite,whichcomesfromtheCatholicceremonialdress.Thebrideandgroomwearthedressestoshowtheirrespectforgodandpurity(窦海巍，2014).Infact,theythinkwhiteispureandnoble.Inviewofthis,therearewhiteweddingdresses,whiteweddingcakes,whiteweddingcarsandsoon.Allthewhiteitemsarethemostpopulardecorationsforwesternweddings.TwodifferentcolorsofweddingdressesinChinaandinthewestshowstwodifferentcultures.InChina,redisthesymbolofauspiciousnessandhappinessandwhiteusuallymeansdeath.Whileinthewest,redisseemedasasasignofbloodandviolenceandtheythinkwhiteispureandnoble.Fromabove,wecanseethatpeopleoftenapproachproblemsfromdifferentperspectivesindifferentculture.3.2.3WeddingBanquetInChina,mostmodernweddingsandreceptionsareheldinhotels,andsomeweddingscanbeseeninopen-aircourtyardsinruralorruraltowns.Therearemanydishesattheweddingbanquet,andusuallyeachdishhasitsownspecialmeaning.Theguestssitaroundthetableanddrinkhappilyandblessthenewlyweds.Thenewlywedsneedtoproposeatoasttotheguestsattheweddingreceptiononebyoneinordertosetupkinship.Insomeareas,thebrideandgroomareexpectedtogreettheirrelativesundertheguidanceofelders,andthepersonbeinggreetedneedstopreparesomegiftsforthebrideandgroomasgreetings.Inwesterncountries,theweddingreceptionisusuallyheldaftertheweddingceremonyinthechurch.Theweddingreceptionisusuallyfollowedbyadance,whichmayhavesomespecialpatterns.Thebanquetwilllasttillthecouplegetsintheircarsandleavesfortheirhoneymoon.Thebanquetonlyhasthreedishes.Someweddingbanquetsareheldintheformofbuffet.Wineandaweddingcakeareindispensableatawedding.Thenewlywedsandguestsproposetoeachothertoshowtheirjoy,gratitudeandblessings.WeddingbanquetisveryimportantinbothChineseandwesterncultures.Therearebothsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthem.Forthesimilarity,inbothChineseandwesterncultures,thebrideandgroomtoasttheirgueststoshowtheirgratitudeandreceiveblessingsandwishesfromguests.Forthedifferences,thetoastinChineseculturehasmoremeanings.ThebrideandthegroomalsotoasttheguestsbecauseChinesepeoplehighlighttheimportanceoffamilism.Throughtheanalysis,itcanbeseenthatwesternweddingbanquetincludesmoreactivitiesforboththenewlywedsandthegueststoenjoyingthemselves,whileChinesebanquetstressesonmuchtheformofsettingupkinship.ThroughthecomparativeanalysisofmarriagecustomsinChineseandwesterncultures,itiseasytofindthedistinguisheddifferencesbetweenthesetwocultures.Althoughmarriagecustomshavechangedalongwithtime,theessentialcharactersinthemarethesame.Forexample,inChineseweddingceremony,thebridealsowearswhiteweddingdresstomakeherselflookpurerandprettierbutchangesintotheredoneatlast,whichisonlyasignofculturalexchange.Theformsoftheweddingmaychangewithtime,butthestructuresofmarriagecustomsinthetwoculturesstandstill.ReasonsfortheDifferencesAbovePhilosophicViews4.1.1ChineseConfucianismPhilosophicViewsPhilosophyisthestudyofabstractandfundamentalproblems,suchasthoseconnectedwithreality,existence,knowledge,valuesreason,morality,mind,andlanguage(TeichmannEvans,1999).AsthedominatedpoliticalideasinChinesehistory,ConfucianismhasinfluencedChinesegreatly.Confuciantheoryof“hierarchyYinandYang”divideseverythingintoyinandyang.Forexample,heavenandmenareregardedasyang,whileearthandwomenarecalledasyin.Theharmonyofyinandyangisregardedasanaturalthingsthatcancreateaworld.Basedontheview,Chinesepeopleattachesgreatimportanceonmarriage.Thebrideandgroomexchangebowsalsoshowstheharmonyofyinandyang.Confucianismalsohighlighttheimportanceoffilialpiety,whichcanbeoneo