Furniture, plays different roles in traditional weddings

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: Made in the Qing Dynasty, this plum flower-shaped red sandalwood stool embedded with bamboo...

: Qing-style furniture, different from Ming-style furniture, emerged at the early period of the...

: Exhibition of the Stools and Chairs of the Qing Dynasty

The traditional wedding customs in China have a long history. As recorded in details in the Ceremonies and Rituals, a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony usually involves 6 procedures, namely, proposing, birthday matching, presenting betrothal gifts, presenting wedding gifts, picking auspicious wedding date, wedding ceremony, wherein furniture plays different roles in different steps.

The Gods of Bed

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1. Make the bed

1. Make the bed

Ever since the Tang Dynasty, it has become a custom to make the bed before the wedding, that is, before sending a party to escort the bride to the groom’s home, the bridegroom would send...
2. Warm the bed

2. Warm the bed

Before the wedding, the bridegroom would invite one of his male friends or relatives who do not get married yet to stay with him on the bed, wishing to have a son after marriage, which is called...
3. Carry the dowry

3. Carry the dowry

Bins and cases shall be moved at first, for they are carrying beddings. The “Reception Granny” from the bridegroom family would wait there and hurry into the bridal chamber with the bedding to...
4. To replace the table with the sedan chair

4. To replace the table with the sedan chair

China has a vast territory and the way of welcoming the bride varies in different areas, using sedan chair, car, horse or even boat and so on. In the countryside in Shaanxi Province in Northwest...
5. Heaven-and-earth worship table for performing ritual kneeling in wedding

5. Heaven-and-earth worship table for performing ritual kneeling in wedding

The history of the heaven-and-earth worship table in the wedding ceremony: as the legend goes, once upon a time, there was a peach blossom fairy living in the Nanshan Mountain in Luoyang City who...
6. Tables and chairs in the wedding hall

6. Tables and chairs in the wedding hall

Ritual kneeling in wedding would be carried out on the arrival of the sedan chair at the bridegroom’s house. The hall is decorated with lanterns and festoons with the poles wrapped up with red...
7. Sit in the bed and throw money and colored fruit

7. Sit in the bed and throw money and colored fruit

After the ritual kneeling in wedding, the bridegroom would lead the bride into the bridal chamber with red silk, which is called “Qianjin (led by silk)”. When in the chamber, the bride would...
8. Rise step by step and longevity weed

8. Rise step by step and longevity weed

In the countryside in Shandong Province, before entering the bridal chamber, the bride is supposed to get on the bed by stepping on a long wooden bench with a plate of steamed cake, offering best...