The marriage customs of the Miao ethnic group in Mayang are similar to those of other Miao ethnic groups. Since ancient times, the custom has been relatively free, but it is by no means the so-called debauchery. After entering the spouse marriage system, young people choose their partners independently, yet they must have a matchmaker and witness before their formal acknowledgement. Even nowadays, in Mayang, especially in its upper side, there must be “a decent marriage” even if there is no “matchmaker”. The gifts required by the bride-to-be can be negotiated with the family of the groom-to-be. As for the custom of “matchmaker” guiding the couple, the bride-to-be only chooses an alternate from the elders (referring to grandparents or uncles) to support the guidance. However, the bride-welcoming ceremony is entirely different. It takes every effort to make great fanfare by playing all the gongs and trumpets, which makes what is called “legitimate marriage”. Only through this procession can the people admit the newly married couple. Although a marriage certificate currently works, this folk ritual is still followed strictly.
Possibly after personal contact, the groom-to-be can request a matchmaker to repeatedly persuade the bride-to-be’s parents to give their consent to the engagement. It means that the matchmaker is allowed to lead the groom-to-be to the bride-to-be’s home with wine and meat, offering her family and relatives a big meal, indicating that the marriage has been well planned. Afterwards, during the Chinese New Year holiday, the groom-to-be must pay a visit upon the family of the bride-to-be. Before marriage ceremony, the groom-to-be should confirm the most auspicious day based on the birth dates of both parties. The matchmaker is demanded by the groom-to-be to acquire the birth date of the bride-to-be, which is called “begging for the birth hour of bride-to-be”. Before setting the auspicious day, the groom-to-be along with the matchmaker informs the bride-to-be of the wedding day and offers dowry. After receiving the dowry, the bride-to-be began to arrange the wedding. She grasps every second to make wedding clothes, shoes, flower ribbons, and even calls upon some neighborly lassies for help. On the eve of her wedding, the bride-to-be invites from the village a woman who enjoys noble character and high prestige to help “trim her eyebrows”. In eyebrow trimming, a thin shoestring is used to straighten the eyebrows and clean the fine hair on her forehead, symbolizing farewell to the girlhood, thus turning into a woman from then on. On the morning of the wedding, there will hold a grand ceremony before leaving the bride’s parents’ home. First, they have a “Farewell Banquet” and enjoys “Farewell Drinks”, put on wedding clothes and shoes, and a silk handkerchief on the bride’s head. A square bucket containing five cereals is placed in the center of the living room with a bamboo sieve aside. After the bride’s brother carries her out of the boudoir to the living room, she stands on a bamboo sieve, facing the shrine to pay tribute to the ancestors. Then with firecrackers set off, she, covered with an umbrella by her relatives and guided with a bunch of Artemisia fire, is carried by her brother once again out of the village entrance before boarding a sedan chair. The wedding procession goes all the way to the groom’s home. In order to entertain the bride and guests, a “Sacrificial Altar” at the entrance of the village is to be set up by the presbyter. Embracing a rooster to take the lead, the “Lady for House Preparation” (responsible for arranging the newly wedding chamber), and the “Lady for Bride’s Arrival” (responsible for carrying the bride into the groom’s chamber at the entrance of the village, and nowadays the bride is carried by the groom himself into the chamber), and the receptionists should prepare gongs and firecrackers to welcome the bride at the “Sacrificial Altar”. On the occasion of the Miao people’s wedding ceremony, the entire village is immersed in joy and happiness. The Miao people also have the custom of “eluding the bride”. When the bride arrives at the groom’s door and is ready to enter the chamber, the groom and his family must elude in the neighbor’s house. It is not impolite but respectful to the bride. Such a meeting never at the first moment is assumed to avoid future tit-for-tat minutes, and to bring the bride to the groom’s chamber with a great relief, well ready to take charge of household chores in the future.
For the Mayang marriage custom, people think highly of “legitimate marriage” and have shaped a complete set of rituals. The Master Ritual is also known as the “Master Sedan” (In the past, brides and privileged guests would come to the groom’s home in a sedan chair). Generally, a person of noble character and high prestige nominated by the elders, has a good command of rituals and speeches. He is not only aware of how to arrange the welcoming affairs, but also intelligent to confirm the details of dowry. In a special mission, the Master Ritual is sent to the bride’s home for three bows and nine kowtows to welcome the bride and receive the privileged guests. In fact, he is the full representative appointed by the party of groom to receive the bride and guests. For the Master Ritual, two things are critical: one is a book box to guide the reception; the other is two bunches of dry bamboos to be lit up for the bride’s departure from her boudoir. With a book box on his shoulder and dry bamboo bunches in his hand, it is prominent that he is the “head” of the wedding procession. Thus he is warmly welcomed into the house with privileged persons in accompany.
The climax on the eve of the bride’s farewell banquet is the ritual of bride-welcoming and guests-receiving. On this occasion, an elderly member of the bride’s family places sacrificial offerings on the square table in front of the shrine in the living room, and then spreads out a mat in front of the square table. On the mat, a bedding is shaped into parallel folds, which auspiciously implies the dragon’s veins continue to undulate along the way. After the elder burns incense in kowtow position, the Master Ritual makes his grand debut.
The Master Ritual first burns incense on the ground, then lights two red candles at the same time and smoothly inserts them into the shrine. Then, he opens the book box, slightly pulls out the two already folded red paper envelopes, and places them on the square table, with the outlet facing the shrine. He steps backward to the mat and performs three bows and nine kowtows to the shrine. The ritual is so solemn that it surpasses any sound in the world. After a big salute, he gets up and goes to the table to adjust the direction of the red envelope’s outlet outward, followed with a short speech to receive guests. (The outlet of the red envelope faces inward to express reverence to the bride’s “an array of ancestors”, while facing outward means respect for the relatives and friends present in the main hall. Only after turning the outlet direction can one start muttering incantations. Otherwise, it would be assumed as impolite.)
The Master Ritual usually performs with various styles. In the following is a popular one among many.
1. Being enthusiastic: “Today I’m honored to receive the bride on behalf of the party of the groom. Upon my arrival at your mansion, I would like to extend my warmest congratulation.”
2. Being humble: As the sages said, “‘serve the imperial edict in the court and the imperial decree in the government’, I am entrusted to welcome bride and receive guests from your mansion, enjoying your heartfelt hospitality, and entertained with the red carpet and colorful decorations. Nevertheless, I have risen of humble origins and received insufficient education, I’m not a master of the rituals. Please pardon me for my possible clumsiness and ill-judgement in receiving guests. The youths in the welcoming procession are too naive to bear in mind the rituals of the sages, which needs to beg your forgiveness.”
3. Being appreciative: extend gratitude to the bride’s family for their kind offerings of dowry and beg their forgiveness for the insufficient wine, meat, firecrackers, etc. from the party of the groom.
4. Being thoughtful: sincerely thank the matchmaker for all the efforts to join the two families.
5. Being reverent: pay homage to an array of ancestors before instructing guests to enjoy drinks in the banquet (At this moment, it is a must to burn incense paper on the ground and sieve wine on the table.). The banquet starts when all guests take their positions.
6. Being frank: according to the past rituals, the bride is received by a sedan chair or a horse ride. Now that everything has changed, distinguished bride and guests are supposed to take a car (walk) to arrive there.
7. Hospitable to privileged guests: invite the bride’s uncles, brothers, and sisters to the groom’s home.
8. Thankful to the cooks: deeply express gratitude to cooks for their every effort to prepare the banquet.
On the completion of the Master Ritual’s speech, a privileged guest pays quite a few compliments and proposes to set off firecrackers outside the door. The Master Ritual puts away his book box and the ritual comes to the end.
In the next morning, when the bride departs from the boudoir, the Master Ritual lights up two bunches of bonfire together. One is left in the main hall, and the other follows the bride. The “two bunches of bonfire” foretells the prosperity in the both families.
In the Jinhe Town, the Master Ritual usually spends the night leisurely. The next morning, when the bride departs from her boudoir, the Master Ritual merely sets up the book box, saying some polite words to receive privileged guests. The ritual is simple, but pays a high esteem to the Master Ritual.
The custom of “blocking doors” for welcoming guests still exists in the Jiangkou area up to now. When the wedding procession is approaching the door, the bride’s “ceremonial head” moves out a long bench and places it horizontally in the center of the door to set layers of obstacles and ordeals for amusement. If the Master Ritual cannot spare himself from the ordeals, he will have to blush and “suffer a slight financial loss”—offer a red envelope.
(Translated by Tian Xia)