The Greatest Event In Life

1
The Greatest Event In Life
A glimpse into the traditional Chinese wedding
and a brief look at Hu Shih
David A Smith
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The Chinese Wedding Tradition
The Proposal
The Betrothal
Preparing for the Wedding Day
Day of the Wedding
The Wedding
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The Proposal
The parents of the prospective bride and groom
handled the negotiations.
Initial gift giving
The astrological expert
The first meeting of families
4
The Betrothal
Extensive bargaining and choosing the wedding date
Betrothal gifts from the grooms family
Tea, bridal cakes, poultry, wine and tobacco
Tea was such a primary part of the gifts they
were known as cha li, tea presents, in some
areas
The significance of accepting the bridal gifts
The dowry is sent to the grooms family
The length of the betrothal
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Preparing for the Wedding Day
The brides retreat
The role of her close friends
Installing the bridal bed
Help from a good luck man
The true installation
Hope for the future
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Day of the Wedding
The Hair Dressing Ritual
The Capping Ritual
The Brides Journey to the grooms house
The arrival at the grooms house
The bridal costume
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The Wedding
A simple ceremony
Homage to the ancestors
The newlyweds bedchamber
Wedding banquets
The day after the wedding
Three days after the wedding
8
Hu Shih
Well traveled and educated
Mr. Zens poem and Dr. Hus revolution
Embracing the modern
Criticism of tradition The Greatest Event in
Life
9
What is your interpretation of the greatest
event in life?
What are some traditions or customs that have
evolved or changed with time in your family?
What are some things you can think of that define
modern in contemporary American society?
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Works Cited Chinese Wedding Traditions.
Chinese Historical and Cultural Project. 2002.
CHCP. 18 September 2004 lthttp//www.chcp.org/w
edding.htmlproposalgt. Hu Shih. Explore
Cornell. 2003. Cornell University. 18 September
2004 lthttp//www.explore.cornell.edu/scene.cfm?s
ceneWason20Collectionstop WC202D20Bio20
Hu20Shigt. Hu, Shih. Greatest Event in Life.
Twentieth-century Chinese drama an anthology.
Ed. Edward M. Gunn. Bloomington Indiana
University Press, 1983. 1-9.