What is the origin of married couples?

Husband and wife of the first marriage

Columnist Anna

When it comes to married couples, what comes to mind? These short words have a history of thousands of years.

Married couples refer to the original couple. The specific ceremony is that when the husband and wife get married, they each take a strand of hair from their heads and tie it in a knot. After that, both men and women officially became husband and wife.

There is a legend about this simple ceremony. Speaking of Fuxi, Nu Wa is the ancestor of the Chinese nation. It is said that "Fuxi has a scaly body, and Nuwa has a snake body." And they are brother and sister, living in Kunlun Mountain, working hard and carefree. I grew up in a blink of an eye, thinking that when two people died, there would be no one in the world, so I negotiated to get married and reproduce human beings.

However, because of the brother-sister relationship, they felt inappropriate and went to the top of Kunlun Mountain to ask God's will. Divination to heaven, a * * * divination for three times, the first time two people lit a fire in the north and south hills, saying that if two strands of smoke rose into the air, they could get married. Later, they really got together.

The second time, the two men went from the north and south hills to the valley, rolling stones and millstones. If they go to the valley, the two millstones can be combined into one, they can get married, and the millstones can be combined into one.

The third time, two people ran a race. If they can catch up with each other, they can get married. Later, they also succeeded. So they got married.

According to legend, the two men stood on the north and south hills, blessed each other with songs and expressed their loyalty and true feelings. Under the witness of the four animals, each of them took a strand of hair, tied a knot in the air, and handed it down like this.

Chinese civilization is the only surviving ancient civilization in the world. Under the influence of such a strong cultural background, the historical precipitation of the Chinese nation is also deeper. The myth of China, which has been circulated since ancient times, is also a glorious chapter that cannot be ignored in Chinese civilization.

In the development of later generations, for married couples, there have always been traditional folk customs of "married couples", "tying their hair to support themselves" and "throwing silk to comfort their feelings" in southern Zhejiang.

"Tie your hair" here refers to the original husband and wife. When they get married on a certain day, the man sends a Geng post, and the woman returns the Geng post, which should indicate the name, date of birth and wedding time. The woman's wedding invitation is quite special. She needs to cut a bunch of hair and tie it with a red rope as a symbol of commitment. As a sign of unity, a hundred years of harmony.

And "throwing silk to comfort feelings" means that husband and wife get married. If a man drowns, his wife will cut off a bunch of hair, tie it to a stone and throw it to the place where her husband has an accident to comfort her feelings.

Knowing this custom, do you feel the sacredness of marriage and the solemnity of vows like me? In the development of marriage customs in later generations, in modern times, or in the traditional customs of modern places, such ceremonies are still well preserved. There is a saying that "a knot in one's hair is like a pillow mat, and the grave is a friend." Used to describe the meaning of cherishing fate, being faithful and growing old together between husband and wife.

During the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a minister named Hong Song. He is very virtuous and common in the countryside. He is a big official. At that time, Guangwudi's sister, Princess Huyang's husband died, and she was widowed at home alone.

In a conversation with Emperor Guangwu, Princess Huyang revealed her intention to marry Hong Song, because she thought Hong Song was very virtuous. Ordinary relatives marry lower-level officials, and officials immediately become relatives of the emperor and his brother-in-law, which is very glorious.

Guangwudi asked Hong Song if he was willing to give up his original marriage and marry his sister. Most people want to get married, but Hong Song doesn't.

Hearing this, he said to Emperor Guangwu: "The friendship between the poor and the humble should not be forgotten, and the wife of the dross should not leave the court." ?

A wife is a description of the original match, which means that the wife who accompanied us to create a family cannot be abandoned. Hong Song rejected the marriage, which had a great influence. Because he is an official of the imperial court, his morality is like this, which corrects the court's emphasis on loyalty.

On the other hand, by contrast, the modern concept of marriage seems so hasty. Two people, driven by feelings, get married easily without careful consideration of real life. After marriage, as the feelings gradually faded, the optimistic side of both sides seemed to disappear. If the storm of life strikes again at this time, this marriage will become so fragile. What is the reason? This is worth pondering.