The origin of the bride price and dowry system in Chinese history can be traced back to ancient times, and as an important part of marriage customs, they carry the function of social culture, economic status and family marriage.
1.Bride price (Nacai or Na Zheng):
The bride price originated from the ancient Chinese "Six Rites" system, which was formed and perfected in the Zhou Dynasty. The "Rites of Etiquette" records the six stages of marriage in ancient times: Nacai, Naji, Naji, Nazheng, Invitation, and Welcome. Among them, the "levy" link is that the man's family gives the woman's family property as a token of the marriage contract, which usually includes money, silk, cloth, jewelry, livestock and other items with practical value, which is the prototype of the modern bride price.
Originally a symbol of respect for the woman's family and recognition of the bride's value, the bride price has evolved over time as its amount and form have been influenced by socio-economic conditions, local customs and family conditions, and has sometimes become a means of highlighting the wealth and social status of the man's family.
2.Dowry:
Dowry refers to the property that the woman's family sends to the man's family when the daughter is married, including but not limited to gold and silver jewelry, furniture, daily necessities, land property and even slaves. Its existence reflects the protection and support of the woman's family for the daughter's married life.
In ancient times, the richness of the dowry also reflected the social status and economic strength of the woman's family, and the dowry was often used in the life of the newly formed family to lay a certain economic foundation for the husband and wife.
Over time, these two traditions have had different manifestations and connotations at different times and in different regions. In the modern world, although some traditional bride price and dowry customs are still prevalent, there are also many people who advocate simplifying or abandoning the practice of material comparison, and advocating that marriage should be based on affection rather than relying too much on material exchange.
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