中英雙語話中國民風民俗 第24期:婚姻的意義

The Meaning of Wedding

婚姻的意義

Ever since ancient times,there has been a saying that the three most delightful moments in one's life come with success in the imperial examination, marriage and the birth of a son. From the Qin (221BC-206BC) to Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, the feudal system dominated over two thousands years. During this period, the importance of getting married was far more than that a person found his better half. For the male side，it determined the prosperity and even the future fame of their family；while for the female side, it meant that parents lost the chance of seeing their daughter for a long time. Thus to choose an ideal partner was vital for both the individual and the family.

自遠古時代起，一直存在一種說法，人生三大幸事莫過於金榜題名，結婚和生子。從秦（公元前221年 - 公元前206年）至清（1644-1911）時期，封建制度統治了兩千多年。在此期間，結婚的重要性遠不止找到自己的另一半。對於男性而言，它決定了個人和家庭未來的榮辱;而對於女性而言，這意味着父母很長一段時間失去了看自己的女兒的機會。因此，選擇一個理想的伴侶對於個人和家庭的都很重要。