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IN the Kingdome of China, (as doth plainly appear by their books, and Chronicles,) formal Marriages and indissoluble after contract, have been in use above 2400 yeares; and in ancient time they used certain particular Ceremonies at the celebration thereof; one of which was, giving the hand. But these have been changed by time, some being taken away, and many others added.
Alwaies from that time to this, there hath been among them two kinds of Marriage; one a true one, with a matrimoniall contract for their whole life between the two parties; and then the woman is called a wife; and treated as such, and received with extraordinary Ceremonies.
The second is rather a Concubinage permitted by their lawes, in case they have no children by their wife; especially sonnes, but now it is grown so common, that although some do forbear having them upon the ac∣count of vert••e; yet it is very ordinary among rich men, to take Concu∣bines, although they have children. The manner is very different from the true and legitimate Marriage; for although they contract after some sort with the Father of the maiden: and that they treat one another as kindred; yet in truth she is bought and sold; and many times by a Person that hath no relation to her, but only that he b••ed her up for that pur∣pose; for there are many in China, which breed up young maidens, and teach them Musick, and dancing, and other perquisites of womens bree∣ding, only to sell them afterwards for Concubines, at a great price. Yet however it is not accounted a Matrimony; nor hath it the solemnitie of Marriage belonging to it; nor any obligation of perpetuity; but the man may put her away; and she may marrie with another; there being no law which prohibits it, in case she be wholly withdrawn from the company of the first.
The manner of treating them is very different They eat apart by themselves in their own chambers: and are in subjection to the true wife, and serve her in some things, as her Servants. The children which they beare, do not do them reverence as to a mother, but they pay it to the true wife, whom also they call mother. Hence it is, that if the Con∣cubine die that bore them, they are not obliged to three years mourning, nor to deprive themselves of entrance into the examinations, nor (if they govern,) to quit their charge; which, (as you shall hear hereafter,) is to be done at the death of their parents. Therefore, although he be an only sonne, he is not obliged to these duties: but only when his Fathers lawfull wife dieth, although she be not his true mother. When the Hus∣band dieth, the government of the estate and family falleth to the lawfull wife, and to the children, whether they be, by her, or by the Concubine. But when the lawfull wife dieth, it falleth to the Concubine and her children, if she have any.
Sometimes it falleth out, that they take a Concubine, and keep her on∣ly, till she bring them a sonne: for, if the lawfull wife will not suffer her to stay, assoone as the child is born, they send her away, or marry her to ano∣ther; & the child which staieth behind, never knoweth her who bore him, acknowledging only for his Mother his Fathers lawfull wife. It happen∣eth also many times, that a man taketh an excessive affection to his Con∣cubine, and then all goeth amisse, but only in what belongeth to the out∣ward observance, which must not be changed. Widows may marry, if they will; but they that are women of qualitie seldome or never do it; no although they be young and have no children. They are to live in their Father in laws house, and are for this reason much esteemed.
In the legitimate Marriage for the most part, they observe an equalitie
of estate and condition; but in their Concubines, they have regard only to their naturall endowments. They may not marry with any of their kin∣dred on their Fathers side, in no degree whatsoever, nor with any of the same Sir-name; but they may marry with their kindred on the Mothers side, if they be in a remote degree; but that is not so exactly observed. A young maid will hardly marry with a widdower, which they call patch∣ing up the house, and the bed.
They never marry, although they be never so great friends, without a Mediator, or one that goeth between both parties; wherefore they chuse whom they please, there being as well men as women, who perform this office. The Bride-groom never seeth the Bride, before he entreth the doore to take her for his wife: there Fathers marry their sonnes ordinarilie very young, & promise them in Mariage even from little children, & some∣times before they are borne, which promise these punctually performe, although their Fathers die before the time, or one of the parties fall from his honour, or estate, &c. excepting both parties voluntarily agree to break off the contract: & if by chance the sonne for some respects will not stand to the contract made by his father, they compel him by law to perform it.
In China, before the Father die, there is no formall portion given, ei∣ther to sonne or daughter; among the meaner sort of people the ordinarie custome is, not absolutely to buy their wives, as some say, but the hus∣band giveth a certain quantitie of mony to the Father of the maid, with which to buy her clothes, and ornaments for her head, suitable to her qualitie. This summe is alwaies of the largest for that pur∣pose; but the Fathers save as much out of it, as they can; what re∣maineth, being to accrue to them. Hence it is, that some have said, that the Chinesses buy their wives; there being not wanting some ground for this beleefe: for to this day they agree with the Father of the maid for so much money; which if it be not given them, they wil not part with their daughter.
Among the Nobility there is no talk of giving any money, but the Father of the Bride is obliged to comply with what the stile and custome of that Kingdome requireth, each according to their abilitie: and commonly that which he giveth is all necessary Furniture for her apartment, excep∣ting the bed; which, although all things are very cheap in that Country, will sometimes cost fifty Crowns. He giveth her four or two maid ser∣vants, to wait upon her, and some money; and of all this more or lesse, according to his ability. But land or possession they almost never give, unlesse the Brides Father be very rich, or that he would match her to some principall Person; and that only in case he have no sonnes.
After the contract is performed between their Fathers, then there fol∣low many curtesies and compliments; as first, the Bride-groom sendeth the Bride a present of things to eate, as flesh, wine, and fruit; Secondly, a day is chosen for their Marriage: which, when it is resolved on by advice of Astrologers, is celebrated with great Ceremonie. The third is, to send to know the Brides name; and last of all, the Bride-groom sendeth the jew∣els to the Bride, that is, a ring and eare-pendants, &c.
The day before the Bride is to be received; they send from the Brides house the Houshould-stuffe and Furniture that is given with her; making a
procession with them; which is to be done about noone, that all may see it; The men that carry it, go two and two, each of them bearing a piece of houshold-stuff of the same kind, that the other doth, whether it be Tables, Chaires, Chests, Curtains, Bed, or what other thing soever.
The day following, in some Provinces, the Bridegroome goeth in per∣son on Horse-back, with his Father and neerest kindred, to receive the Bride: who is carried in a sedan with great pompe and state. In other Provinces, especially towards the South, the Bride-groome sendeth the sedan toward the evening (they have some very curious ones, made only for this purpose, richly adorned with silk, and the doore to be locked on the outside) and a great deale of company to waite upon her with lights set in wooden frams like lanthornes. The mother after the Bride hath finished the usuall com∣pliment, at parting, putteth her into the sedan and locketh the doore, and sendeth the key before to her sonne-in-laws mother; and so she departeth along with the company, who go all before her, excepting the maid-ser∣vants, which her Father giveth her, who go by her side.
When she is come to the Bride-groomes house, the mother-in-law un∣locketh the sedan and taking out the Bride, delivereth her to the Bride-groome; Then they go both together to the Chappell, or Oratorie of their Idols, where are likewise kept the Images or names of their Predecessours. There they make the ordinarie reverence of bowing themselves foure times upon their knees, and presently they go forward into the inward Hall, where their parents are sitting in Chaires, to whom they make the same reverences; then the Bride retireth with her Mother-in-law, her way∣ting maids, and the woman that did negotiate the marriage, to the wo∣mens apartment; where she hath a particular chamber for her selfe and her husband; into which, as is abovesaid, no other man may enter, no not their Father or elder brother, so that if the Father would chastise the son for any fault, (which is ordinarie there for their Fathers to do, although their sonnes be married) if he can get into his wives chamber he is safe, for the Father may not enter there, nor speak with his daughter-in-law, ex∣cept on some occasions, which are dispensed with: So carefull a watch do they keep on that precious Gemme of Honour. The Bridegroome, when he doeth not retire, stayeth with his Father, kindred, and friends, &c. Who spend many daies together in continuall feasts and banquetting: when the first month is over, the Bride returneth home to her Fathers house, which they call Queinim, that is retiring to rest.
The sonnes do all equally inherit; although they be but halfe-Bro∣thers, and not begotten on the lawfull wife, having regard in this only to the Father. The sisters have no more than what is given with them at their marriage. If the Father die before he hath married his daughters, the brothers are obliged to bestow them in marriage; and the sonnes that are already married, (if the Father in his life time divide his estate among them,) are bound to maintaine their sisters, till they are married.
Neverthelesse in China there are some families, especially of the Nobili∣tie, where the eldest sonnes do inherit the Majorasgo, or the most conside∣rable part of the land, if they have any that is so entaild; although they have other brothers. And these children are called Que Cum, Chu, Hui, Heupè, Chei, Hei.