Chinese Ghost Marriage
A Chinese spirit marriage is a complex part of traditional culture
Mar 6, 2009
History of Chinese Ghost Marriages
The origin of ghost marriages is shrouded in mystery. Cultures ranging across the world (including surprising locations like France) have and sometimes still do practice ghost marriages, but China’s ghost marriages (referred to as guihun in Chinese) are perhaps the most famous.
Why are there Ghost Marriages for Women?
The question of why Chinese ghost marriages exist is a complex one with many reasons. One reason for the existence of Chinese ghost marriages exist is to fulfill a previously agreed to marriage contract. If a bride’s fiancé dies before the marriage, the option exists to carry out a ghost marriage in place of a real one. In this situation, the bride has all the normal obligations of marriage: she moves into her husband’s home, participates in a funeral ritual and mourning period for her deceased husband, and vows to remain loyal to him (that is to say, celibate).
Another reason why Chinese ghost marriages exist is because of the enormous social pressure for a Chinese woman to get married. Ghost marriage is often the answer when a woman passes away before marrying. This is to ensure that she can join a male line of descent (by joining her husband’s family).
Living women are often participants in Chinese ghost marriages as well, since an unmarried daughter is traditionally thought of as an embarrassing burden on her family.
Why are there Ghost Marriages for Men?
Men that die before they are married are often given ghost marriages as well, either to living or deceased brides. This is to allow the man to have a socially accepted heir and legitimately carry on his family name. A male offspring of a male family member is often adopted as the deceased man’s son, thus ensuring the family line continues.
Additionally, ghost marriages are often held for deceased older brothers. Because tradition dictates that an older brother should marry before a younger one, a ghost marriage for an unmarried older brother frees the younger brother to marry without breaking tradition.
Ghost Marriages for Two Dead Spouses
In many ghost marriages, both of the spouses are already deceased and the marriage ceremony is carried out in absence of their physical selves. In some cases, family members claim to be alerted to the desires of deceased unmarried relatives, either through a spirit medium or some other supernatural means. According to this tradition, lonely, unmarried spirits make their marriage intentions known and ask their living relatives to carry out their wishes.
In addition, ghost marriages can be used as a means of creating a social bond between two families, much the same way a typical marriage might.
Ghost Marriage Ceremony
A ghost marriage ceremony is variable, but often follows the same lines of a typical marriage. Since one or both of the participants are deceased, an effigy is often made in their stead.
The dowry, traditional in Chinese marriages, can range anywhere from a simple red packet of money to houses, furniture and expensive jewelry. In any event, the ceremony is often conducted in the same manner as if both parties were present.
