What is the feature of a traditional marriage engagement？
2 min readAfter a xiangqin date，both the two families became involved in the preparation for the marriage engagement.A traditional engagement required a marriage contract，which was formally written on high-quality paper，bent in six folds and printed with happy designs on its surface.
A matchmaker acted as the contract deliverer，making round trips at least twotimes between the two families.On her first trip，the matchmaker received the marriage contract from the prospective bridegroom’s family and carried it to the prospective bride’s family.The main content of the contract was a proposal of marriage；upon its arrival，the prospective bride’s family would reply with a written acceptance.On her second trip the matchmaker delivered an updated contract to the prospective bride’s family.This time the contract was called“lijian（etiquette card），”which appeared in form with dragon designs on its surface.In return，the prospective bride’s family would present a formal acceptance letter，which had phoenix patterns on its surface.
On the contract-delivery date friends and relatives would visit the prospective bridegroom’s family，and the bridegroom’s parents entertained them with an “Engagement Dinner）.” The dinner attendants would include the bridegroom and the matchmaker who would depart for the bride’s family with the contract after the dinner.
On the matchmaker’s second trip to the prospective bride’s family，there would be some more people to go with the matchmaker.These people’s responsibility was to carry gift boxes in hands or on shoulders.When they arrived at the prospective bride’s home，the visitors attended another banquet hosted by the prospective bride’s family.After the banquet，the matchmaker brought the acceptance letter back to the prospective bridegroom’s family.
In some areas visitors who participated in the Engagement Dinner held by the prospective bridegroom’s family would present gifts to the hosts.Visitors who participated in the Engagement Dinner held by the prospective bride’s family would receive gifts from the prospective bridegroom’s family.More importantly，the prospective bridegroom’s family would present expensive gifts to the prospective bride’s grandparents and parents，as well as the prospective bride.The gifts for the prospective bride might include jewels and materials for clothing.
