淺析當(dāng)代中西方婚俗文化的差異及原因

福州大學(xué)本科生畢業(yè)論文PAGE18PAGE16ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\u4680ChineseAbstract 2English12856Abstract 366231.Introduction 510111.1DefinitionofRelatedImportantConcepts 5105421.2TheSignificanceoftheResearch 6295442.LiteratureReview 669222.1ChineseMarriageCustoms 6120702.2WesternMarriageCustoms 8143263.TheDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternMarriageCulture 9234343.1PremaritalPreparation 9300703.2WeddingProcess 1017004.ReasonsfortheDifferencesAbove 13123374.1PhilosophicViews 1314314.2ReligiousBeliefs 14232604.3EconomicSystem 1473785.Conclusion 1520908References 17

淺析當(dāng)代中西方婚俗文化的差異及原因摘要文化作為一種歷史現(xiàn)象，包括信仰、價(jià)值觀、風(fēng)俗、社會(huì)體系等，其發(fā)展具有繼承性、階級(jí)性、民族性和地域性?；樗鬃鳛閭鹘y(tǒng)文化的重要組成部分，隨著時(shí)間的推移，受不同文化和地域的影響，逐漸形成自己的特色。在全球化成為必然趨勢(shì)的大環(huán)境下，各國(guó)之間的文化交流日益頻繁。中國(guó)逐漸被世界了解的同時(shí)，也經(jīng)受著外來文化的沖擊。中西方不斷碰撞、融合，婚俗文化也必然經(jīng)歷不斷的變化?，F(xiàn)代中西方婚禮上相同的因素越來越多，差異與導(dǎo)致差異的因素也與以往不同。本文以當(dāng)代中西方婚俗文化為研究對(duì)象，從中西方婚禮前的準(zhǔn)備與婚禮儀式兩大方面的不同，研究中西方婚俗文化之間的差異，以及產(chǎn)生這種差異的原因?；樗鬃鳛閭鹘y(tǒng)文化的體現(xiàn)，在差異的現(xiàn)象背后蘊(yùn)含著深刻的文化背景。本文旨在使讀者可以更好地了解中西婚俗文化，加深對(duì)中西文化差異的認(rèn)識(shí)，為更好的跨文化交流打下基礎(chǔ)。關(guān)鍵詞：中國(guó)婚俗文化；西方婚俗文化；差異；原因ABriefAnalysisoftheDifferencesBetweenContemporaryChineseandWesternWeddingCustomsandtheReasonsBehindAbstractAsahistoricalphenomenon,cultureincludesbeliefs,values,customsandsocialsystemsandsoon,anditsdevelopmentischaracterizedbyinheritance,class,nationalityandregion.Beinganimportantpartoftraditionalculture,marriagecustomshavegraduallyformedtheirowncharacteristicswiththepassageoftime,andinfluenceofdifferentculturesandregions.Undertheinevitabletrendofglobalization,culturalexchangesbetweencountriesareincreasinglyfrequent.AsChinaisgraduallyknowntotheworld,itisalsoexperiencingtheimpactofforeigncultures.WiththeconstantculturalcollisionandintegrationbetweenChinaandthewest,themarriagecultureofeachcountryisboundtoexperienceconstantchanges.TherearemoreandmoresimilarfactorsinmodernChineseandwesternweddings.Differencesandthefactorsthatcausethesedifferencesarealsodifferent.ThispapertakesthecontemporaryChineseandwesternmarriagecustomcultureastheresearchobject.ItstudiesthedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternweddingpreparationandweddingceremony,andthereasonsforthedifferences.Astheembodimentoftraditionalculture,marriagecustomscontainprofoundculturalbackgroundbehindthephenomenonofdifferences.ThispaperisaimedtohelpreadersbetterunderstandthemarriagecultureofChinaandthewest,deepentheirunderstandingoftheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandthewest,andlayagoodfoundationforbettercross-culturalcommunication.Keywords:Chinesemarriageculture;Westernmarriageculture;differences;reasons

1.IntroductionChina,anancientcivilizedcountrywithahistoryofmorethan5,000years,itsmarriagecustomcultureplaysanimportantroleinthetraditionalculture.“Eatinganddressing,theadmirationbetweenmenandwomen,arethetwobiggestandmostbasicdesiresamonghuman”,arguedMencius,oneofthemostimportantConfucianphilosophersintheancientChina(楊伯峻，2008：22).Thatis,theancientsputmarriageanddietincomparableposition,asthetwomajorhumanmust-do.Theybelievethatmarriageisthetoppriorityforhumansurvivalandreproduction.Therefore,asanimportantceremonytoenterthemarriage,theweddingalsohasanirreplaceablepositionandinfluenceinthenationalculture.DefinitionofRelatedImportantConcepts1.1.1MarriageCustomsandMarriageCustomCultureMarriagecustoms,thatis,marriageetiquette,areimportantetiquettecustomsthatarefeltinlifeduringthemultiplicationanddevelopmentofhumanlife.Marriageasafolkphenomenonincludestwoaspects:marriageformandmarriageetiquette.Themarriageetiquetteisheldonthepremiseofthemarriagerelationshiprecognizedbythesociety,anditistherecognitionofthemarriagerelationshipbythepeople.Theformofmarriagediffersduetodifferencesinthepre-maritalrelationship,matingconditions,residenceaftermarriage,andallrightsandobligationsofthemanandthewoman.Differentformsofmarriageformdifferencesinetiquetteandcustomsintheprocessofmarriage(夏征農(nóng),陳至立,2012).Theso-calledmarriagecustomreferstotheculturalphenomenonformedaroundtheloveandmarriageofpeople.Marriagecustomcultureisnotonlyapartofhumancivilizationandhumanculture,butalsoalinkandaspecialforminthedevelopmentchainofhumancivilizationandhumanculture.Afterlong-termdevelopmentandinheritance,andafterthechangesofthetimes,marriagecustomsculturehasbeenrootedinvariousnationalculturesasauniqueculturalphenomenon.Theresearchonthemarriagecustomsculturehasprofoundandfar-reachingsignificanceforunderstandingthedevelopmentoftheentirenation.1.1.2Significationof“Chinese”and“theWesterns”ThereisnodoubtthattheChinesemarriagecultureinthispaperonlyreferstothemarriagecultureandphenomenonexistinginallregionsandethnicgroupsofChina.Theopposite“West”isnotthegeographical“West”countryoppositetoChina’s“East”.WhenwecomparethemarriagecustomcultureofChinesestyleandWesternstyle,itreferstothewesterncountriesdividedaccordingtotheculturalbackgroundandpoliticalsystem.Intermsofculturalbackground,ChinamostlybelievesinConfucianism,whilewesterncountriesmostlybelieveinChristianity.Intermsofpoliticalsystem,westerncountriesconsiderthemselvestoimplementdemocraticsystem.Accordingtothetraditionaldivision,RussiaandJapanaretwospecialpowers.Russiabelongstothebranchofwesterncultureinculturalbackground,butbecauseofitspoliticalsystem,ithasnotbeenrecognizedbywesterncountries.AlthoughJapanbelongstotheEastgeographically,itisalsoconsideredasawesterncountrybecauseofitscapitalistpoliticalsystem.Suchspecialcircumstancesarenotincludedinthediscussioninthispaper,thatis,thewesternmarriageculturediscussedinthispaperiswidelyacceptedbythepublicinthetraditionalsense,suchasthemarriagecultureintheUnitedStates,Britain,FranceandotherEuropeancountries.1.2TheSignificanceoftheResearchExistingresearchonChineseandWesternmarriagecustomsstillhascertainlimitations.Someresearchershaveonlyconductedrelevantresearchesonthestudyofmarriagecustomsandetiquettecultureinarepresentativeregion,oronlyselectedoneaspectofChineseandWesternmarriagecustomsculturesuchasceremony,dress,colorandotherin-depthanalysisandresearch.FewofthesestudiescomprehensivelycomparethedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternmarriageculturesandthereasonsbehind.Inordertoexplorethereasonsbehindit,thisarticlewillcomprehensivelyelaborateandcomparethepreparationsbeforethewedding,theweddingceremonyandtheweddingcustomcultureafterthewedding,andanalyzethesimilaritiesanddifferencesreflectedinthemandthereasons,whichhaveimportantpracticalresearchsignificance.It’shopedthatthereaderscanunderstandthemarriagecultureofChinaandthewestbetter,layagoodfoundationforfuturecross-culturalcommunication.LiteratureReview2.1ChineseMarriageCustomsMarriageisaveryimportantlinkinthelifepath.Asacountryofritesandceremonies,Chinahashadmanyritualsandproceduresfortheconfirmationofmarriagerelationshipsinceancienttimes(莊雯莎,2017).Inmarriagecustomculture,theroleoftraditionalculturecannotbeignored(曹萍,2017).ChoosingaspouseinancientChinaisgenerallynotsomethingthatyoucanchooseanddecide.It’sabout‘thefateofyourparents,theadviceofthematchmaker’,andit’sbettertochoosetheotherhalfinamarriagebetweenfamiliesofequalsocialrank.InChina,itisnecessaryfortheparentsofthemantofindthematchmaker,andthenexplaintherequirementsandfamilyconditionsofthemantothematchmaker,sothatthematchmakercanmatchtherightobjectforthemanaccordingtotherequirementsofthemanandrecommendittothewoman’sfamily.Thisprocessisameetingofbothparents,notinvolvingthecouplegettingmarried.Thetwofamilieswillgiveeachothertokensoftheirengagementiftheythinkit’srightforeachother.Ceremonyisanindispensablepartofawedding(王敏,2019).AnimportantceremonyduringancientChineseweddingsis“thethreeworships”.Atthebeginningofthethreebows,peopleusuallylightcandles,setofffirecrackersandplaymusic..Atthistime,thebrideandgroomwalkintotheroomtogetherandstandinfrontofthemale’sparentsforthethreebowsceremony.Firstly,theybowtotheskyandtheground,whichrepresentstheworshipofgods.Thentheybowtoparentsofgroom,whichistheembodimentoffilialpietyvaluedbyChinesepeople.Finally,thebrideandgroombowtoeachother,whichmeansthathusbandandwifeshouldrespecteachotherasguests.Aftertheweddingceremony,thebridewillbesenttothebridalchambertowaitforthegroom.Thebridegroomwillgotothebanquettoreceivetheblessingsofotherrelativesandfriends,andproposeatoasttothem.InMay1950,themarriagelawwaspromulgated,whichannouncedtheabolitionofthefeudalarrangedmarriages,whichformedawaveofanti-feudalmarriagesthroughoutthecountry.Duringthe17yearssincethefoundingofNewChinatothebeginningofthe“CulturalRevolution”,themarriagecustomsfocusedonpoliticalfactorsandpoliticalelements.Theestablishmentofanewsocietyhasundergonecorrespondingreformsandchangesinthemarriagecustoms,eliminatingtheredtapeoftraditionalweddingsandsimplifyingtheweddingceremony.Sincethereformandopening-uppolicy,Chinahasundergonetremendouschanges,andmarriagecustomshavealsoundergoneunprecedentedchanges.Intheviewofspouse-selection,politicalfactorsarenolongerthetoppriority,andeconomic,educational,andculturalfactorsaregraduallyplacedinanimportantposition.Payingattentiontothepersonality,characterandhobbiesofeachotherhasbecomeanimportantpartofpeople’sspouseselection(徐安琪,2000).Folksongssuchas“Girlsloveheroesinthe1950sandcadresinthe1960s,thentheyloveworkersandpeasantsinthe1970sandlovescholarsinthe1980s,whilegirlsinthe1990slovesugardaddy”arepopularinShanghai,whichvividlyreflectsthechangesinthespouseselectionstandardsofyoungwomeninbigcitiessincethefoundingofthePeople’sRepublicofChina(鄧偉志&胡申生,2007).ContemporaryChinesemarriageandlovecustomsarediverseandinclusive,andfreedomofmarriageandlovehasbecomeamajorfeatureofthetransformationofmarriagecustomsinNewChina,whetheritisfromspouseselection,love,engagement,marriage,ordivorce.Manymodernfactorshavealsobeenaddedtothemarriagecustoms.Newspapersandtelevisionsbegantopublishadvertisementsformarriagequotations(薛穎旦,1998).Intheearly1990s,BeijingTVlaunchedthefirstTVprogramdesignedspecificallyformarriagehiring.Atthesametime,marriageagenciesbegantospreadalloverthemajorcities,becomingthenewfashionofmarriageatthattime(劉新平,2001).Afterenteringthe21stcentury,withtheopeningofideasandtherapiddevelopmentofscienceandtechnology,fraternityclubs,blinddateclubs,datingsoftware,etc.haveprovidedyoungmenandwomenwithmorewaysandopportunitiestomeetandfallinlove.2.2WesternMarriageCustomsComparedwithChina,westernerschoosetheirspousesmorefreely.ThefreedomofloveisadvocatedintheWest.ThechoiceofspouseandmarriageintheWestarebasedonlove.ThewesternmarriageethicsoriginatedfromtheintegrationofGreekcultureandHebrewChristianculture,whichdevelopedintothemodernethicalrelationshipoffreelove.Therefore,nomatterthebirth,family,age,socialstatusandotherfactorsofeachother,thetwosidesinlovestarttocommunicateaslongastheylikeeachother(黃玟,2019).Inwesterncountries,marriagepaysmoreattentiontothemaximumdisplayofone’sfreewill,whichiscompletelyselectedaccordingtoone’srealyearning.Twopeoplemeettoknoweachother,attracteachother,pursueeachother,andclingtoeachotheruntiltheyareinseparable.Therefore,theyarewillingtogivethemselvestoeachotherandformafamilytogetherunderamutuallycommittedmarriage.Theyareeagertopayforloveandsacrificeformarriage.WesterncountriesaremainlyChristian,somostweddingsinwesterncountriesareheldinchurches.Thepersonwhopresidesovertheweddingisusuallyapriest.Theimportantceremonyoftheweddingistoswearandexchangeweddingrings.TheweddingisintheformofQuestion&Answer.Thepriestwillsaythewordstothebrideandgroom,“Doyouwantthisman(woman)tobecomeyourhusband(wife)tomarryhim?Lovehimorher,takecareofhimorher,respecthimorher,accepthimorher,andremainfaithfultohimorheruntiltheendofhisorherlife,forsicknessorhealthorforanyotherreason?”Ifbothsidesanswer“Yes,Ido”,theycanexchangeweddingringsandthegroomcankissthebride.Infact,intheChristianconcept,marriageisagiftfromGod,sotheirmarriageisunconditionalcommitmenttoeachother,notbasedonreciprocity.AndinEncyclopediaBritannica,marriageisdefinedas“thelegalunionofamanandwife,andinsomejurisdictionsbetweentwopersonsofthesamesex,usuallyentailinglegalobligationsofeachpersontotheother”(2003).DifferentfromthebustleofChineseweddings,thewesternweddingceremonyismoresolemnandquiet.Ontheweddingday,theweddingmarchplayedbythechurchissoftandpeaceful.Whenthemusiccomeson,thewholechurchisveryquiet.Nosoundcanbeheardexceptmusic.Theweddingisgoingoninaspecialsolemnatmosphere.Inwesterncountries,theresultoflovebetweenyoungmenandwomenloveistogetmarried.Thepurposeoftheirmarriageistokeepthetwosidestogetherforeverandtoliveabetterlifetogether.Therefore,whenchoosingamarriagepartner,mostWesternerspaymoreattentiontothefeelingsofbothsidesratherthanthefamilyinterests.ComparedwiththeyoungpeopleinChina,theyoungpeopleinwesterncountriesaremorewillingtoexpresstheirtrueideasandshowthemselvesinsocialoccasions.Theydon’tneedparentsormatchmakers.Theyaremoreinclinedtomeetnewloversintheirstudy,lifeandwork,suchashighschoolstudents’clubsorsummercampactivities,collegestudents’fraternities,largeparties,etc.Duetothedifferentdevelopmentspeedoftechnology,socialnetworkandmobilechatsoftwarehavebecomeoneoftheirimportantsocialchannelsearlierthaninChina.TheDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternMarriageCultureThroughtheabovebriefoverviewofChineseandwesternmarriagecustoms,wehaveseenthattherearesignificantdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternmarriagecustomscultureinallaspects.Next,theauthorwillmakeamoresystematicelaborationthroughthepreparationbeforemarriageandthespecificweddingceremony,inordertocarryonthethoroughcontrasttothedifferenceamongthem.3.1PremaritalPreparation3.1.1TheChoosingofaSpouseIncontemporaryChina,youngpeoplehavegreaterfreedomandautonomyintheirmarriagechoicesthaninthefeudaleraandeventhebeginningoftheperiodofreformandopeningup.Theynolongerblindlyfollowthematchmaker’sintroductionandobeytheirparents’orders.However,manyfamiliesstillpaymoreattentionto“well-matchedmarriage”,thatis,themarriageofbothmenandwomen’swork,socialstatus,andeveneducationandsalaryshouldbeinthesamelevel,evenformenandwomen’sfamilybackground,regionalenvironment,educationlevel,workunitsandpositionshavecertainrequirements.Althoughmostcontemporaryparentsnolongerhavethedecisivesayonthechild’smarriage,theoppositionofparentswillstillbeaconsiderableobstacle.IntraditionalChineseculture,obtainingthespiritualandthematerialsupportoftheirparentsduringmarriageisofgreatsignificancetocontemporaryChineseyouth.UnlikethesituationinChina,youngpeopleinWesterncountrieshavebasicallylivedindependentlysincetheywereadults,bothpsychologicallyandmaterially.Atthesametime,lowerparticipationofparentsintheirchildren’sprivatelifemeansthatwesternyoungpeoplecanchoosetheirspousefreely.InChina,marriageisnotjustarelationshipbetweentwoindividuals,butarelationshipbetweentwofamiliesorevenaclan.Butformostyoungpeopleinthewest,marriageismoreamatterofpersonalchoiceandlessabouttheirfamilies.TheybelievethatmarriageisagiftfromGod,andevenparentscannotdeprivethisright.Ofcourse,youngmenandwomenalsoneedtomeettheirparentsandgettheirblessingbeforetheygetmarried,butmostoftheirparentsrespecttheirchildren’schoiceswithoutundueinterference.3.1.2ProposingWiththedevelopmentofcultureandeconomy,thetraditionofweddingcustomsincontemporaryChinaistosimplifythetediousmattersbeforetheweddingasmuchaspossible.“Whilethroughtheevolutionofhistory,thesixetiquettehasbeensimplified”(史前前，2013：5).Inrecentyears,duetothedomesticpublicopinionorientationandmoreopenculturalatmosphere,manyromanticyoungpeoplewillalsopainstakinglyholdmarriageproposalceremonies,andmoreyoungpeoplearemoreinclinedtothetraditionalway,thatis,bothmenandwomenandtwoelders(mostlyparents)discussthemarriagetogetherandreachanagreementbeforetoputtheweddingontheagenda.However,althoughthebride’sbetrothalpresentsandthewoman’sdowryhaveundergonechangesinformandcontent,thisprocessisstillarepresentativeproductofChinesemarriagecustoms.Inwesternweddingcustoms,marriageproposalandengagementaretwoveryceremonialprocesses,andeventhesolemnityoftheengagementceremonycanbecomparabletotheformalweddingceremony.Afterestablishingtherelationship,themanwillaskthewomanifshewouldmarryhiminaformalandromanticway,justaswhatwecanseeinmoviesandTVs.Althoughtheresultseemsdefinite,it’snecessarytoamarriage.Ifthewomanagrees,theproposalsucceedsandtheycanholdasimplepartyfortheengagementtotelltheirfriendsandrelativesthegoodnews.Afterall,theycanprepareforweddingceremony.OneinterestingpointisthatChinesemarriagecustomsaremorecomplicatedtopreparebeforemarriagethanWesternmarriagecustoms,itmaybebecauseoftheimplicitnessoftraditionalChineseculture.3.2WeddingProcess3.2.1WeddingCeremonyInChinesetraditionalmarriagecustoms,theweddingismainlycomposedoftakingthebridefromthebride’sparents’houseandperformingaformalweddingceremony.InmodernChina,somepeoplestillchoosetocompletetheirweddingceremonyinatraditionalway.Peopleneedtogetupearlytodopreparations.“Afterthebrideputtingonmakeupandchangingherdress,thebridegroomwillbringthebridebacktothebridegroom’shome,theywillstarttheceremonyinaauspicioushour”(史前前，2013：5).Themainriteintheceremonyis“thebowingtotheHeavenandEarth”,whichmeansthecouplehavegotthepermissionandblessingsofheavenandearthandtheirancestors.Nowadays,moreandmoreyoungcouples’ceremonyareheldinawesternway.Thethreeworshipshavebeentakenplaced.Theymainlygivespeechesandalsosay“yes”tothequestionsaskedbytheweddinghost,andreceiveblessingsfromguests’applauseandcheers.WesternersbelieveinChristianity.Theyusuallyarrangetheweddinginachurch,withapriestorFatherofficiating.Inwesternmarriagecustoms,thestepsoftheweddingceremonyarefixedandcannotbechanged.Ontheweddingday,thebrideandgroom,theirparents,bestmanandbridesmaids,relativesandfriendsarriveatthechurchontime.Theweddingbeginsandthegroomwaitsforhisbrideinfrontofthechurch.Thebride,accompaniedbyherfather,willwalkintothechurchandherfatherhandsherovertothegroom,duringwhichthepriestorFatherwillblessthecouple.Thebrideandgroom,accompaniedbythebestmanandbridesmaids,walktothealtarandpromisetolove,honorandcherisheachotherforricherandforpoorer,insicknessandinhealth,untildeath.Withondisapproveofothersandthebestwishesofpeoplearound,thenewlywedswillthenaccompaniedbytheirclosestrelativesandkeyguestsandregisterintheprayerroombehindthealtar.Theweddingceremonyofficiallyendedwhenthebrideandgroomwalkoutofthechurchhandinhand.Generallyspeaking,westernweddingceremoniesaresimpleandromantic,thewholeceremonywassacredandsolemnunderthereligiousrendering.Fromabove,itvanbeseemthatChineseweddingceremonyfocusmoreonthesenseofhappiness.What’smore,inordertomaintainahappyatmosphere,cheerfulmusicsareessential,whichseemsaliveandjoyful.Whilewesternweddingceremonyissolemnandreligiousanditcreatesaromanticatmosphere.3.2.2WeddingDressWecanusetwocolorstodescribewesternandChineseWeddingrespectively:whiteandred.InChina,redsymbolizesgoodfortuneandprosperity,whilewhiteweddingsrepresentpurity,loyalty,beauty,andsacrednessinWest,whichmeansGodspillsloveintotheworld.(陳娟,2013).ModernChineseweddingdressmainlyincludestwotypes.Onetypeistraditionaloldfashionedweddingdressessuchasachapletandofficialrobes,cheongsam,Tangsuitandsoon.Thecolorofthesedressesaremainlyred,whichisregardedasthecolorofauspiciousnessandhappiness.Withthesignofculturalexchange,anothertypeofweddingdresses,westernweddingdressesaregettingmoreandmorepopularinChina.ModernChineseweddingsareinfluencedbywesternweddingcustoms.Thebridealsowearsawhiteweddingdress,butchangesintoareddressattheweddingreceptionafterthewedding,whichshowsredisalwaystherightcolortobechoseninthejoyfulatmosphere.Inthewest,whiteisthemaincolorofwesternwedding.In1840,thewhiteweddingdresswornbyqueenVictoriaofEnglandestablishedthesolidstatusofthewhiteweddingdressasamodernweddingdress.Inthewesternwedding,thebride’sweddingdressesaremostlypurewhite,andthebridegroom’sdressesaremainlysuits.Thewesternweddingdressismainlywhite,whichcomesfromtheCatholicceremonialdress.Thebrideandgroomwearthedressestoshowtheirrespectforgodandpurity(竇海巍，2014).Infact,theythinkwhiteispureandnoble.Inviewofthis,therearewhiteweddingdresses,whiteweddingcakes,whiteweddingcarsandsoon.Allthewhiteitemsarethemostpopulardecorationsforwesternweddings.TwodifferentcolorsofweddingdressesinChinaandinthewestshowstwodifferentcultures.InChina,redisthesymbolofauspiciousnessandhappinessandwhiteusuallymeansdeath.Whileinthewest,redisseemedasasasignofbloodandviolenceandtheythinkwhiteispureandnoble.Fromabove,wecanseethatpeopleoftenapproachproblemsfromdifferentperspectivesindifferentculture.3.2.3WeddingBanquetInChina,mostmodernweddingsandreceptionsareheldinhotels,andsomeweddingscanbeseeninopen-aircourtyardsinruralorruraltowns.Therearemanydishesattheweddingbanquet,andusuallyeachdishhasitsownspecialmeaning.Theguestssitaroundthetableanddrinkhappilyandblessthenewlyweds.Thenewlywedsneedtoproposeatoasttotheguestsattheweddingreceptiononebyoneinordertosetupkinship.Insomeareas,thebrideandgroomareexpectedtogreettheirrelativesundertheguidanceofelders,andthepersonbeinggreetedneedstopreparesomegiftsforthebrideandgroomasgreetings.Inwesterncountries,theweddingreceptionisusuallyheldaftertheweddingceremonyinthechurch.Theweddingreceptionisusuallyfollowedbyadance,whichmayhavesomespecialpatterns.Thebanquetwilllasttillthecouplegetsintheircarsandleavesfortheirhoneymoon.Thebanquetonlyhasthreedishes.Someweddingbanquetsareheldintheformofbuffet.Wineandaweddingcakeareindispensableatawedding.Thenewlywedsandguestsproposetoeachothertoshowtheirjoy,gratitudeandblessings.WeddingbanquetisveryimportantinbothChineseandwesterncultures.Therearebothsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthem.Forthesimilarity,inbothChineseandwesterncultures,thebrideandgroomtoasttheirgueststoshowtheirgratitudeandreceiveblessingsandwishesfromguests.Forthedifferences,thetoastinChineseculturehasmoremeanings.ThebrideandthegroomalsotoasttheguestsbecauseChinesepeoplehighlighttheimportanceoffamilism.Throughtheanalysis,itcanbeseenthatwesternweddingbanquetincludesmoreactivitiesforboththenewlywedsandthegueststoenjoyingthemselves,whileChinesebanquetstressesonmuchtheformofsettingupkinship.ThroughthecomparativeanalysisofmarriagecustomsinChineseandwesterncultures,itiseasytofindthedistinguisheddifferencesbetweenthesetwocultures.Althoughmarriagecustomshavechangedalongwithtime,theessentialcharactersinthemarethesame.Forexample,inChineseweddingceremony,thebridealsowearswhiteweddingdresstomakeherselflookpurerandprettierbutchangesintotheredoneatlast,whichisonlyasignofculturalexchange.Theformsoftheweddingmaychangewithtime,butthestructuresofmarriagecustomsinthetwoculturesstandstill.ReasonsfortheDifferencesAbovePhilosophicViews4.1.1ChineseConfucianismPhilosophicViewsPhilosophyisthestudyofabstractandfundamentalproblems,suchasthoseconnectedwithreality,existence,knowledge,valuesreason,morality,mind,andlanguage(TeichmannEvans,1999).AsthedominatedpoliticalideasinChinesehistory,ConfucianismhasinfluencedChinesegreatly.Confuciantheoryof“hierarchyYinandYang”divideseverythingintoyinandyang.Forexample,heavenandmenareregardedasyang,whileearthandwomenarecalledasyin.Theharmonyofyinandyangisregardedasanaturalthingsthatcancreateaworld.Basedontheview,Chinesepeopleattachesgreatimportanceonmarriage.Thebrideandgroomexchangebowsalsoshowstheharmonyofyinandyang.Confucianismalsohighlighttheimportanceoffilialpiety,whichcanbeoneo