Tang Dynasty: Matrimony

Virtually all marriages during the Tang Dynasty were arranged. These arrangements were done by matchmakers, usually women, for families with young children. Tang Dynasty code of laws actually required arranged marriages. From the ancient Chinese viewpoint, the institution of marriage was too important to be left to chance and romance.

The legal age to marry was fourteen for males, and twelve for females. The matchmakers would check out the future couple’s genealogy, ages, health, and financial status. The marriage contract was between the family patriarchs. The groom’s family was responsible to send betrothal gifts to the bride’s family. After the marriage, the bride became a member of the groom’s family.

Finally, there were strict laws and punishments for marriages between partners that were closely related. Fourth cousins received one hundred blows with a rod, third cousins got one year of imprisonment, first cousins were sent into exile one thousand li from their hometown, which for an ancient Chinese was catastrophic. People marrying someone else with the same surname received two years of imprisonment.

Tang Dynasty marriages were strictly between a man and a woman. Monogamy was the only accepted form. Concubines were somewhat common for the wealthy, aristocratic and/or royal. They were bought and sold like slaves.

There were very few divorces. It was only a male decision, and would be allowed under only three circumstances. One was failure to bear a male child before the age of 49. The others were for adultery, and for the wife’s refusal to serve her in-laws. So obviously the main function of marriage was to have and raise male children. Activities that pregnant wives engaged in (“fetal teaching”) were to burn fine incense, recite poetry, dwell quietly, and to the play the stringed instrument qin.

Notes:

li: one half of one kilometer