Until recently, in China, a man had the right to have multiple wives. Only in 1950 was a law passed prohibiting polygamy. The modern Chinese family is born out of the love and consent of the newlyweds, and not under the duress of parents. But some old family traditions have survived to this day.
The role of the family in China
In China, the family has long been considered the highest value of the existing society. The person was presented as part of a single team, the interests of which were formed by many generations of ancestors. In worshiping the ideal of the family, the Chinese obeyed the foundations of the state. The poorest inhabitants and the emperor had the same obligations towards the family. According to Chinese philosophy, laws would not be violated if each family member performed customary duties.
Historical family traditions
Following ancient customs, the head of the family should see his children as adults, watch the growing up of his grandchildren, and, if possible, live to see his great-grandchildren. In ancient times, a wealthy Chinese man could possess several concubines. Poor people, getting rid of useless women, sold young daughters.
Relatives representing numerous families became the reason for the emergence of clans of kinsmen who strongly support each other, sometimes inhabiting entire villages. The Chinese authorities allowed them to submit many cases and concerns to their own courts. From birth, a person got used to putting generally accepted values above personal ones. An important basis of social order was obedience to the elders, who acquired some power over the young.
The main duty of a man is to prevent the disappearance of the clan, so he must have an heir. A married daughter becomes a member of her husband's family, and she takes care of his relatives. In China, to honor the memory of deceased ancestors, only representatives of the stronger sex could "take care" of them, so a son was simply necessary.
More recently, matchmaking was organized by parents. Sometimes the bride and groom first saw each other at a wedding. The daughter-in-law who came to a strange family was obliged to reckon with the opinion of all new relatives. The husband's attention was focused on the interests of the clan, and strong affection for his wife was not supposed to be expressed. Respect has come over the years, after growing up their own children. A woman who was not able to have offspring was not respected by her husband's relatives and even society.
The family inheritance was usually distributed equally among the sons. The man who remained a widower had the right to remarry, and the widow usually devoted herself to caring for her husband's relatives. Young women could remarry, but this was discouraged. In medieval legislation, divorce was provided only on the initiative of a man.
Modern customs
The Chinese family has gradually moved from established traditions to modernity. At present, its characteristic feature is its small size. But traditional patterns persist: families represent generations of spouses and children, sometimes from three to five generations.
The decline in the size of the Chinese family has led to a change in views on marriage and family. The person began to feel like a separate person, to strive for certain benefits in life. Traditional family forms come close to the challenges of modern European society. Many people choose late marriage or celibacy.
The reason for the decrease in the size of the family was the laws that combat the overpopulation of the territory of the state. It is not permissible to have more than one child. Those who comply with the laws receive certain benefits from the state, and those who violate this order will face penalties. The government’s harsh measures run counter to China’s historical tradition of a large family, but such an approach is necessary to limit the size of the population.
The birth of a boy is a great joy, therefore women who are able to "give" a son deserve special respect. The daughter will subsequently leave the family, and there will be no one to pass on the family traditions. Only the future successor of the family deserves respect in some families, and daughters and mothers are often humiliated even now.
The right to independently choose spouses and divorce men and women in China received after 1920, but the law acquired legal force only in 1950. Today, Chinese youth are legally married for love. Huge respect for parents has been shown to this day: it is important to get formal consent from them for the wedding in advance.
Modern youth do not always adhere to the traditions of marriage: someone skips most of the ancient ceremonies and rituals, others refuse them altogether in order to save the budget. But traditional wedding rituals still live on in Chinese culture. For example, when visiting houses before the wedding, the groom brings gifts to the parents of the future wife, and the bride receives a gift from the parents of the future husband. It is considered an ancient custom to prepare a dowry for the bride. The wedding day is appointed in accordance with the indication of the lunar calendar or fortuneteller. The fish served on the banquet table should be eaten in a special way: its whole skeleton with its head and tail should remain intact. Symbolically, this indicates a good start and a successful end to life together.
