Study of the Evolution of Marriage Customs: Focusing on Huangchuan (Guangzhou) in the Xinyang Region

Abstract

In the period around the founding of the People's Republic of China, traditional and modern marriage customs were in a state of constant flux and change. This paper aims to explore the nature of these changes and the issues that emerged from them. By organizing and interpreting the text, we attempt to present a comprehensive view of these evolving customs and provide explanations. This study utilizes the fifteenth chapter, first section on marriage customs from "The Cultural Annals of Huangchuan County" compiled by the Cultural Bureau of Huangchuan County. It offers an overview of the marital customs in Huangchuan around the time of the nation's founding. A detailed and accurate interpretation of the text reveals that most of Huangchuan's marriage procedures originated from the traditional 'Six Etiquettes', with many similarities to them. With the establishment of New China, local marriage customs in Huangchuan also began to simplify. However, this simplification gave rise to extreme and undesirable practices such as high dowries, ostentation, extravagance, and even the arrangement of ghost marriages. While practical simplifications are welcomed, it is essential to eradicate and change these negative new aspects.