What are the "Six Rites" in China's ancient wedding customs?

The six procedures of ancient marriage include six steps: receiving gifts, asking names, receiving gifts, inviting parties and welcoming relatives.

Nacai means that the man's father first sends a matchmaker to the woman's house to propose marriage, and after the woman agrees, he sends an envoy to give an engagement gift and formally propose marriage. After the party, the messenger immediately asked the woman's parents' names, the woman's own name, ranking and date of birth, and replied to the man's prediction of good or bad, that is, asked her name.

After asking the name, the man got a good omen, the messenger returned to the woman's house, and the marriage was formally settled. This is Najib. After Najib, the man gave the bride a bride price. Whether rich or poor, bride price is indispensable. This is called taxation.

After sending the bride price, the man sent someone to the woman's house to choose the wedding date. In fact, the man had already set the wedding date when he was divining, and "appointment" was just a courtesy to show respect for the woman's opinion.

On the appointed wedding date, the groom comes home at dusk to celebrate the wedding (marriage at dusk is said to be the original meaning of marriage). This is the six rites of ancient marriage.