During the Song Dynasty, marrying a daughter became a financial game between the rich and the poor. In this day and age, the cost of marriage is far from what the average family can easily afford compared to modern times. Unlike modern people's openness to marriage, the society of the time demanded a high dowry, which led to many ordinary people falling into unbearable difficulties. This article will reveal the mystery of the dowry of Song Dynasty women and the reasons behind it through the stories of three famous Song Dynasty celebrities, Fan Zhongyan, Su Zhe and Yuan Cai.
The "Guan" of the Song Dynasty: the heavy burden of Qianwen money.
In the Song Dynasty, a woman's dowry became a social burden. Take Fan Zhongyan as an example, he was a capable minister in the Northern Song Dynasty and his family was wealthy, but the dowry standard he set for his people was staggering. For the bride price of the man, he subsidized 20 yuan, while the dowry of the woman was as high as 30 yuan. This was equivalent to 80,000 to 120,000 yuan in purchasing power at that time, which was an extremely large amount. If measured by the current ** buying power, this is equivalent to millions of yuan.
Su Zhe, a celebrity who also enjoys an official position, is also troubled by the issue of marrying a daughter. For the sake of his daughter's dowry, he did not hesitate to sell his land and scraped together 9,400 yuan, which is equivalent to about 2.8 million yuan in modern times. This is an eye-popping figure that shows the enormous pressure on the funds needed to marry a woman at that time. Even such a prominent minister could not easily face the financial worries of his daughter's marriage.
Financial Game: The extravagant expense of marrying a daughter as a family property.
For famous ministers such as Fan Zhongyan and Su Zhe, although their families are wealthy, marrying a daughter is still a huge expense. And for ordinary people, marrying a daughter is an almost unbearable luxury. In the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, statistics from Huacheng County in Sichuan Province showed that hundreds of women of school age failed to marry. The reason is not because of their looks, but because of the local rules: "When a Ba people marry a woman, they must be responsible for the wealth of the woman." The unbearable dowry pressure of ordinary families has deprived many girls of the opportunity to marry.
Behind the Money Game: Financial Bondage to Marriage.
The issue of marrying women during the Song Dynasty reflected the economic constraints on marriage in society at that time. The huge dowries that celebrities such as Fan Zhongyan and Su Zhe need to prepare are obviously not something that ordinary people can afford. This makes marriage a money game and deprives many women of the opportunity to start a family. Marrying a woman has become a luxury expense for the family, and a large number of "leftover women" have appeared in society, which is in stark contrast to the openness of modern people towards marriage.
Conclusion: The financial torture of marriage.
The mystery of the dowry of women in the Song Dynasty is not only a historical phenomenon, but also a profound reflection on the marriage system. In this money game, marriage becomes extremely heavy and becomes a major financial torture for the family. Nowadays, modern people may be able to cherish the essence of marriage more in the mirror of history, get rid of excessive economic constraints, and pursue a more equal and open view of marriage.
The issue of the dowry of women in the Song Dynasty has been deeply and thoroughly analyzed through this article, which gives people a clearer understanding of the marriage system and economic situation of the society at that time. It's a marriage game involving money and social norms, as well as deep reflections on the high cost of marriage.
First of all, through the vivid cases of famous ministers such as Fan Zhongyan and Su Zhe, the article reveals the sky-high price of women's dowries at that time. This dowry system makes marriage a financial game, which not only poses a huge economic pressure on wealthy families, but also makes it unaffordable for ordinary people, resulting in a large number of women of appropriate age unable to marry. Through the comparison of specific data, readers have a deeper understanding of the practical problems faced by women in the Song Dynasty.
Secondly, the article makes a profound analysis of the economic constraints on marriage in Song Dynasty society. The complexity of the issue of marrying a woman is not only due to the wealth of the family, but also to the high demand for a woman's dowry in society at that time. This economic constraint has affected the marriage structure of society, making it impossible for many women to marry due to economic reasons, resulting in a large number of "leftover women". This phenomenon is in sharp contrast to the contemporary open view of marriage, which has triggered a profound reflection on the economicization of marriage.
Furthermore, through a historical review of the issue of marrying women, this article presents the evolution of marriage and the changes in social concepts. From the economic constraints of the Song Dynasty to the open-mindedness of the modern era, marriage has undergone tremendous changes in the development of society. Modern people may be able to understand the nature of marriage more deeply in this history, pay more attention to feelings and equality, and get rid of excessive economic torture.
Overall, this article provides readers with a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the dowry issue of women in the Song Dynasty through detailed historical cases, data comparisons, and in-depth social analysis. This not only provides a strong basis for us to understand historical society, but also triggers a reflection on the contemporary view of marriage. Marriage, whether it is a financial game or a happy choice in life, may be the question that every society needs to go deep into.
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