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BOOK XLI. HWĂN Î
OR
THE MEANING OF THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY1.
VI. The ceremony of marriage was intended to be
a bond of love between two (families of different) surnames, with a view, in its retrospective character, to secure the services in the ancestral temple, and in its prospective character, to secure the continuance of the family line. Therefore the superior men, (the ancient rulers), set a great value upon it. Hence, in regard to the various (introductory) ceremonies,―the proposal with its accompanying gift2; the inquiries about the (lady's) name; the intimation of the approving divination; the receiving the special offerings; and the request to fix the day":— these all were received by the principal party (on the lady's side), as he rested on his mat or leaning-stool in the ancestral temple. (When they arrived), he met the messenger, and greeted him outside the gate, giving place to him as he entered, after which they ascended to the hall. Thus were the instruc
1 See the introductory notice, vol. xxvii, page 55
* This gift was always a goose; into the reasons for which it is not necessary to enter.
'The gentleman's family had divined on the proposal.
4 These were various.
The lady's family fixed this. The first proposal was made, and perhaps those which followed also, by that important functionary in Chinese life, 'the go-between,' or a friend acting in that capacity.
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