the importance of tradition in Chinese weddings

1. Chinese Weddings and
Cultural Context
-March 5, 2017
-Communications 101
-Mrs. Sonandre
Photo Credit: (Sposa, 2009)

2. Overview
1. Title Page (Brynn)
2. Overview (Ashley)
3. Introduction (Ashley)
4. High Context and Low Context Cultures (Tyrah)
5. Cultural Context in China (Tyrah)
6. Chinese Cultural Formation (Tyrah)
7. Why China is a high context culture based on traditional weddings (Brynn)
8. Traditional Chinese Wedding Proposal (Jeff)
9. Traditional Chinese Wedding Symbols (Galina)
10. Chinese Bridal Preparations (Sarah)
11. Chinese Groom Preparations (Sarah)
12. Traditional Chinese Wedding Ceremony (Sarah)
13. After a Chinese Wedding Ceremony (Jeff)
14. Conclusion (Ashley)
15. References (Brynn)

3. Introduction
In ancient China, women were chained when they were brought to meet their future
husband. This started the tradition of the bride being carried to her ceremony.
(Rutledge, 1996)
China has a very high context culture with a lot of meaning in symbols, traditions, and
history. Based on Chinese wedding traditions and the symbols, foods, and preparations
involved it’s easy to see that their culture is high context.
Our group (Group 1) has done extensive research about traditional Chinese weddings
and the symbols and meanings that go with those traditions
In China a lot of importance is placed on wishing the newlyweds good luck and for a
prosperous marriage. In the U.S. there are a lot of different cultures and it is important
to know how to correctly respond to your friend, colleague, or even boss’s major life
events, like getting married.

4. High Context and Low Context
Cultures
• The concepts of high context and low context refer
to how people communicate in different cultures.
• Differences can be derived from the extent to which
meaning is transmitted through actual words used
or implied by the context.
• High context implies that a lot of unspoken
information is implicitly transferred during
communication.
• Low context implies that a lot of information is
exchanged explicitly through the message itself and
rarely is anything implicit or hidden. (Williams,
2015)
Photo Credit: (Autor, 2011)

5. Chinese Culture Formation
• Thousands of years of culture and history have
formed to emphasized the importance of
maintaining balance in relationships, which means
avoiding saying or doing things that could upset
others, and potentially damage relationships.
• In traditional Chinese culture, being too direct is
generally seen as an indication of a lack of
sophistication, of being poorly educated, or of simply
being rude and inconsiderate of others.
• In China communication tends to be very efficient
because of their information-flow at work and in
privacy. They discuss everything in advance and
consider meetings as an official ceremony where the
already commonly agreed decision will be
announced. (Lombard, 2016)

6. Cultural Context in China
• China is a high context culture.
• Communication is frequently indirect, and
requires a deep understanding of the cultural
context to be able to properly interpret what
others are saying and doing.
• This is especially true of situations that could
involve anger, confrontation, or disagreement.
• The Chinese place great importance on
ambience, decorum, the relative status of the
participants in a communication and the
manner of message’s delivery. (Maclachlan,
2010)
• High context cultures usually have a lot of way
to nonverbally communicate

7. Nonverbal Communication
• Nonverbal communication is used in every aspect of the Chinese culture. Tones of
the voice, facial expressions, and gestures are all ways that nonverbal
communication is portrayed.
• Bowing is the traditional way to greet friends. Hugging and kissing is not.
Hand shaking usually only occurs among equals not those of different status’s. It
is actually considered rude to offer your hand.
• Touching is generally frowned upon in public, unless you are same sex.
• A person’s personal space is smaller then what we are accustomed to here in the
states.
• Eye contact is not normal. Usually the listener looks at the speakers nose (Kim,
2012)
• These forms of communicating are used a lot in traditional Chinese Weddings

8. Traditional Chinese Wedding Proposal
• Process of engagement: prolific gifts were presented to the girl's
family, symbolizing respect and kindness towards the girl's family as
well as the capability of providing a good life for the girl.
• In ancient times the marriage was not based on the couples love for
one another, but it was based upon what the parents wanted to
accomplish.
Photo Credit: (Wang, 2014)

9. Traditional Chinese Wedding
Symbols
Symbol
Double happiness symbol/ candle
Meaning
• The candle is burned at weddings as a symbol
for good luck and a happy marriage.
• Composed of two standard characters
representing the wish for the newlyweds to
have happiness.
• Lighting candles is very important to Chinese
wedding night. (Mock, 2013)
• Imply good wishes for the newlyweds living
together with love and good luck.
Photo Credit: (Chinese
Symbols…, n.d.)

10. Traditional Chinese Wedding Symbols
Symbol
Red/Gold Invitation Envelopes
Meaning
• The red envelope is also a symbol of
prosperity. Red is also the color in Chinese
weddings, representing good luck, joy and
happiness.
• Gold is a very popular color to match red.
Traditionally, the color gold can be used only by
emperors as a symbol of the highest status.
(Mock, 2013)
• The combination of red and gold provide
people a strong sense of happiness and honor.
Photo Credit: (Bryant, n.d.)

11. Traditional Chinese Wedding Symbols
Symbols
Cheongsam and Han/ dragon and
phoenix patterns
Meaning
• Cheongsam and Han Chinese clothes are
the two most popular styles. No matter
which style you choose, the wedding dress
is always made of red silk, with beautiful
embroideries on it.
• The pattern of dragon and phoenix is also
used frequently in Chinese wedding
decorations, symbolizing the groom and
bride respectively; most often
embroidered on wedding dresses. (Zhang,
2009)
Photo Credit: (Bryant, n.d.)

12. Chinese Bridal Preparations
• At the dawn on her wedding day the bride is bathed in water infused with
pumelo, a variety of grapefruit to cleanse her of her evil influences.
• A ‘good luck woman’ attends the brides preparations and dresses the brides hair
in the style of a married woman.
• She is carried to the main hall on the good luck woman’s back, or it can be the
most senior sister-in-law.
• She is put in a jacket and skirt and steps in red shoes.
• Bride’s face is covered in a red silk veil.
(Mar & Rutledge, 1996)
Photo Credit: (Wang, 2016)

13. Chinese Groom Preparations
• Dresses in a long gown with red shoes.
• Red silk sash with a silk ball on his shoulder.
• Father places a cap decorated with cypress leaves
on the grooms head.
• The groom bows first before the tablets of Heaven
and Earth and his ancestors then to his parents and
the rest of the family members. (Mar & Rutledge,
1996)
Photo Credit: (Sposa, 2009)

14. Traditional Chinese Wedding Ceremony
• The father removes the silk ball from the
sash of the grooms shoulders and places it
on the top of the bridal sedan’s chair.
• The bride and groom are conducted to the
family altar, there they paid homage to
Heaven and Earth, the family ancestors and
the Kitchen God.
• Tea with two red dates is offered generally to
the grooms parents.
• The most important feast is given to the
groom’s family on the day of the wedding.
(Grice, n.d.) Photo Cedit: (Traditions…, 2007)

15. After a Chinese Wedding Ceremony
• After the ceremony the couple is led to the bridal chamber where both of them
sit on a bed. They drink honey and wine poured into goblets linked by a red
thread. They exchanged cups and took drinks, and drank it down. (Traditions…,
2007)
• The bed chamber is soon open to visitors who view it.
• Later there are separate wedding feasts where men and women sit separately.

16. Conclusion
• “High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and
have members that form stable, close relationships.” (Williams, 2015)
• As shown in the pictures and proven by our abundance of credible sources
traditional Chinese weddings confirm that China has a high context culture.
• It is important to know Chinese culture is high context and revolves around
traditions and symbols.
• This may help in the future if you are ever looking to get closer to someone who
follows Chinese traditions, or if you are invited to a Chinese wedding.

17. Questions to Consider
• What other cultures share similar wedding traditions?
• What are some differences between a traditional wedding in the U.S. and a
traditional Chinese wedding?
• What are some similarities between U.S. weddings and Chinese weddings?
• What are some communication barriers that someone from a low-context culture
might have with someone from a high-context culture?
• What are some symbols used in other cultures that also give good luck to
newlyweds?
• What are some communication errors that could occur when people from
different cultures communicate?
• Can you describe a way of communicating unique to your culture?

18. References
• Autor, B. (2011, April 15). II. High context versus low context. Retrieved March 05, 2017, from
http://www.via-web.de/high-context-vs-low-context/
• Bryant, C. (n.d.). New Year Red Envelopes Home » Arts & Crafts » Chinese New Year » New Year
Red Envelopes. Retrieved February 23, 2017, from http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/ANR060
• Chinese Symbols-Chinese Marriage Ceremony-Double Happiness-Waterlilly-Crane-Buddhist Om
Symbol-Chinese Weddings-Place Cards-Table Numbers-Wedding Programs-Seating Charts. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 23, 2017, from
https://www.documentsanddesigns.com/reception_accessories/Dings_Swirls/Index_Chinese_Sy
mbols.htm
• Grice, R. (n.d.). Traditional Chinese marriage (wedding) customs. Retrieved February 23, 2017,
from http://www.chinatourguide.net/12_19.htm
• Kim, J. (October 21, 2012). Nonverbal Communication in China. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from
https://jasonkim29.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/nonverbal-communication-in-china/
• Lombard, J. (2016, May 28). What makes China a high context culture? Retrieved March 05, 2017,
from https://www.quora.com/What-makes-China-a-high-context-culture
• Maclachlan, M. (2010, February 12). Cross-Cultural Communication Styles: High and Low Context.
Retrieved March 05, 2017, from https://www.communicaid.com/cross-cultural-
training/blog/high-and-low-context/

19. References
• Mar, L., & Rutledge, I. (1996). Chinese Wedding Traditions. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from
http://chcp.org/virtual-museum-library/chinese-wedding-traditions/#wedding
• Mock, L. (2013, February 12). Significance of Red & Gold in Chinese culture. Retrieved February 23, 2017,
from http://qiharmony.com/significance-of-red-gold-in-chinese-culture/
• Sposa, C. (2009, November 1). Wedding On Frame. Retrieved March 05, 2017, from
http://weddingonframe.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
• Traditions -> Festivals and Customs. (2007). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://traditions.cultural-
china.com/en/14Traditions30.html
• Wang. (2014, March 29). Traditional Wedding Rituals. Retrieved March 05, 2017, from
https://wang927.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/traditional-wedding-rituals/
• Wang, F. (2016, April 05). What goes into a traditional Chinese wedding in Guangdong? Retrieved February
28, 2017, from Quora, https://www.quora.com/What-goes-into-a-Traditional-Chinese-wedding-in-
Guangdong
• Williams, Y. (2015, May 20). High-Context Culture: Definition & Examples. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from
http://study.com/academy/lesson/high-context-culture-definition-examples-quiz.html
• Zhang, X. (2009). Chinese Wedding. Retrieved February 23, 2017, from
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall09/zhang_x/dress.html