Chinese pre-wedding customs are traditional Chinese rituals prescribed by the Book of Rites, the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (儀禮) and the Bai Hu Tong (白虎通) condensed into a series of rituals now known as the Three Letters and Six Rites (三書六禮). Traditionally speaking, a wedding that incorporates all 6 rites is considered a complete wedding (大娶, dà qǔ).
The six traditional rites involved in a Chinese wedding are as follows:
- nacai (納采) - formal proposal
- wenming (問名) - giving of the eight characters of prospective bride to the groom’s side
- naji (納吉) - placement of the eight characters at the ancestral altar to confirm compatibility
- nazheng (納徵) - sending of betrothal gifts to the bride and return gifts to the prospective groom
- qingqi (請期) - selection of an auspicious wedding date
- qinying (親迎) - wedding ceremony
Read more about Chinese Pre-wedding Customs: Selection of Dates, Betrothal, Delivery of The Bride's Dowry, Installation of The Bridal Bed, Hair Combing Ceremony, Chinese Wedding Decorations 大喜装饰
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