The Voyage of Marriage and the Legend of the Bride Price
In the long river of Chinese wedding customs, the bride price is like a boat carrying ancient traditions, shuttling in the ocean of modern civilization. It is not only a symbol of the economic exchange between the two families, but also a witness to the beginning of a marriage. With the change of the times, the meaning and form of the bride price are also undergoing a quiet change, especially the timing of its payment, whether it is before or after the legal recognition of the marriage relationship between the two people, has become a new social topic.
Ancient rituals and bride price before obtaining a certificate
Traditionally, the bride price is a gift or property paid by the groom's family to the bride's family, often paid in advance along with the wedding ceremony. This custom is deeply rooted in China's cultural soil for thousands of years, like a meandering stream, nourishing the older generation's perception and respect for marriage. The bride price before receiving the certificate is like a bridge between the families, which not only carries the man's gratitude to the woman's family, but also symbolizes the cherishing and commitment to the future wife.
The burden and glory of cultural inheritance
In some areas, the bride price before obtaining the certificate also shoulders the dual mission of showing the sincerity of the man and protecting the face of the woman's family. It is a symbolic reward for the hard work of parents in raising their daughters, and it is also an expectation of future support for the woman's family. In these places, the amount of the bride price is often closely linked to the sense of family pride and becomes an unwritten measure of the value of marriage.
The rhythm of the new era and the bride price after receiving the certificate
However, with the improvement of women's status and legal awareness, modern society has begun to tend to exchange bride price after officially recognized marriage. This change is like a spring breeze, bringing a touch of novelty to the wedding customs. The bride price after receiving the certificate is more like the starting fund for the husband and wife to live together, marking that the two people will work together to face the future life together.
Emotional investment in the concept of equality
The bride price paid after obtaining the certificate is far away from the color of the transaction, and more reflects the concept of marriage of equality between men and women. It is no longer a one-way gift, but a manifestation of the emotional investment of both parties. In this era, the bride price is gradually regarded as part of the joint property of the couple, which not only helps to protect the legitimate rights and interests of women, but also demonstrates the protection of the equal right to marriage under modern law.
The time difference between the balance of the law and the bride price
The intervention of the law adds a more complex layer of social significance to the timing of the payment of the bride price. In the eyes of the law, the bride price before and after obtaining the license has completely different attributes. If the bride price is paid before the certificate is issued, the fate of the property will be uncertain if the marriage is not consummated, and the bride price after the certificate will be included in the scope of the joint property of the husband and wife, which is strictly protected by the law.
Disputes over the definition of pre-marital and post-marital property
Chinese law clearly defines the scope of pre-marital personal property and post-marital joint property. The bride price before and after the issuance of the certificate is therefore given different legal status at different points in time. This is particularly critical in the case of the treatment of community property in divorce, as it may have a direct impact on the outcome and fairness of the division of property.
The Evolution of Social Attitudes and the Future of Bride Price
Over time, society's perception of bride price has evolved. In the eyes of the new generation of young people, marriage is based more on mutual love than financial gain. This shift in perception, like a bud in spring, heralds a possible change in traditional bride price customs.
Affection is the status of material gifts
Modern young people pay more and more attention to the emotional factor in marriage, and question or even reject the traditional bride price system. They prefer a symbolic bride price or the abolition of the practice altogether as an expression of their pursuit of pure love and their rejection of transactional marriages. This attitude not only challenges traditional beliefs, but also promotes a new understanding of the nature of marriage in society.
A new course for bride price customs
Standing at the intersection of tradition and modernity, the ancient custom of bride price is facing an important period of transformation. Whether paid before or after the receipt of the marriage certificate, the bride price should be a voluntary and pleasant decision for both parties, and should not be a burden or a source of conflict in the marriage. Looking ahead, the tradition of bride price may become more flexible and diverse as awareness of the freedom to marry and individual rights increases, but it should be passed on forever as a core spirit of family union and blessing.
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