During the Labor Day holiday, the Shentangkou (深潭口) Ancient Stage was very lively. Many people were seen craning their necks to get a better view of and stretching their hands with phones and cameras to capture Xixi water town traditional wedding folk custom performance, a well-received traditional folk custom performance with a high degree of participation in Xixi.
New Presentation of Old Water Village Wedding Custom
Old custom: Escort the Bride to the Bridegroom’s Home by Boat on the Wedding Day
Since ancient times, Xixi Wetland is packed with rivers, pools and streams, and people get around the area by boat, hence the wedding custom is carried mainly on water. The most special feature of the custom is that the bride is carried on a boat instead of a sedan chair like the majority of areas in China do to the bridegroom’s home.
Xixi people in old times traveled by boat instead of driving cars or riding horses. Different from modern people’s fancy car fleet, Xixi people use boats in Yingqin* (迎亲) and Songqin* (送亲), two of the important procedures of a traditional Chinese wedding.
*Yingqin refers to one of the wedding procedures that involves the bridegroom leading a procession to the bride’s home to escort her to the wedding ceremony.
*Songqin refers to one of the wedding procedures that involves the bride’s family accompanying the bride to the bridegroom’s home on the wedding day.
The Bride Boarding the Wedding Boat
On the wedding day, the bridegroom takes his family boat and leads a raucous procession to the bride’s home to get the bride.
The Bride’s Maternal Uncle Escorting the Bride
The bride’s maternal uncle carries the bride into the bridal boat, on which two people play the trumpets all the way to the bridegroom’s home. The other boat carries the bride’s father and brother(s), wedding dowry, child buckets, etc. to the bridegroom’s home.
The Wedding Ritual
At the auspicious time, the officiator announces that the wedding ritual begins. The matchmaker holds the bride, and the bride and the bridegroom carry a flowery ball together and bow three times to He He Er Xian* (和合二仙) to pray for safety and luck, and loyalty to each other.
*He He Er Xian: two traditional Chinese images that symbolize a happy marriage and a harmonious family
Drink Tea and Listen to Opera
The wedding banquet is very grand. Chicken, duck, fish, pork, fresh vegetables and desserts are must-haves. Operas telling auspicious stories are also available. The scene is lively.
Regarding what the old wedding custom in Xixi is like, we can only picture the lively and extraordinary scenes based on the documentation that was passed down.
But coming to Xixi on holidays, you can see the quintessence of the water village wedding custom.
After rearranging, a new version of Xixi Water Village Wedding Custom performance, Shen Yuanwai* Choosing Son-in-Law, which is performed by the aboriginals of Jiangcun Village (蒋村) is back on and brings viewers pearls of laughter. People can view the original Xixi folk custom, experience the fun of catching the embroidered ball and taking a flowery boat, and get the joy of the happy occasion.
*Yuanwai (员外) refers to a ministry councilor or a landlord.
New Version: Xixi Shen Yuanwai Choosing Son-in-Law
As the old saying goes, “Up above there is heaven, and down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.” The Jiangsu and Zhejiang region has been prosperous and rich in resources since ancient times. Families with only a daughter are more willing to have a matrilocal son-in-law to inherit the family line.
Xixi since ancient times has been Hangzhou’s “living fish bank” and is also rich in silk, persimmon and other agricultural products. Shen Yuanwai that resides in Xixi is naturally one of the richest in the area. He has a daughter who is 20 years old and very beautiful. He plans to choose a son-in-law in a most traditional way by setting up a stage in front of his house and inviting young men passing by to catch the embroidered ball. Anyone that is eligible and succeeds in catching the embroidered ball will become his son-in-law.
The Daughter Entering the Stage
After Shen Yuanwai exchanges greetings with the audience, the daughter holding a red embroidered ball in hand makes a stunning appearance under the leadership of the matchmaker.
Catching the Embroidered Ball
Now it's time for the bride to throw the embroidered ball. The young men in the audience are itching to try. After the daughter settles on a young man, she steadily throws the embroidered ball to him. The young man reacts fast and catches the embroidered ball quickly, ruthlessly and accurately.
The Bridegroom-to-Be Entering the Stage
The bridegroom-to-be enters the stage to receive the “interrogation” of Shen Yuanwai. His joy is clearly seen.
Flowery Boat Cruise
After changing into wedding clothes, the bride and the bridegroom board the festive flowery boat, which, in the sound of wedding music, cruises under big camphor trees and attracts people’s attention.
The Bride Getting On the Bridal Sedan Chair
The flowery boat goes ashore and accompanied by the matchmaker and the bridegroom, the bride is ready to get on the bridal sedan chair to complete the wedding ritual. The bridal sedan chair carried by four men is actually much cooler than cars.
The Wedding Ritual
Now it’s time for the wedding ritual. With the matchmaker presiding, the bride and the bridegroom firstly bow to the heavens and the earth to pray for a lasting relationship, then bow to the audience to wish them fun, and lastly bow to each other to pray for a happy and harmonious life together.
Lifting up the Bridal Veil
The bridegroom slowly lifts up the bridal veil. He first sees the cherry lips with a smile, then the eyes, and lastly, the entire face, such a beautiful bride!
Giving Away Wedding Candies
Lastly, the couple distribute wedding candies to the audience and together share the taste of the festivity and joy.
When out playing, we should have a whale of time.
The water village wedding folk custom performance in Xixi is not just a performance, but an immersive happy experience.
If you want to know more about Xixi water village wedding folk custom, you can also head to Misty Water Fishing Village (烟水鱼庄), a Xixi wedding folk custom museum integrating display, interaction and experience.