User:Kirsty Chai/Marriage in modern China

Types of Marriage Practices

Naked marriage

Naked marriage (Chinese: 裸婚, luǒhūn) is recent Chinese slang, coined in 2008 to describe the growing number of marriages between partners who do not yet own any significant assets. The "Five No" involved are: no ring, no ceremony, no honeymoon, no home, and no car. To some extent, the practice violates traditions that a groom should provide a new place for his future wife. At least, the couple's families should provide them a material foundation to provide for their future grandchildren. However, in order for a marriage to be legally recognized and protected by the law and the government, it needs to be registered with the government under the Marriage Act.

Flash marriage

Flash or blitz marriage (Chinese: 闪婚, shǎnhūn) is recent (and derogatory) Chinese slang for a marriage between partners who have known each other less than one month. In some cases, these young couples (usually in China's large cities) represent changing attitudes toward romantic love; in other words, they have found the soaring prices of real estate have made such speedy marriages more economical. "Flash" marriages are also more likely to happen because parents pressure their children to marry quickly before the parents feel it is too late. However, "flash" marriages are more likely to end in divorce soon afterwards as the couples find themselves unable to cope due to personal habits that they did not know about before they married each other.

Status of Late Marriage in Modern China

Chinese marriage license

Cui Hun

Cui Hun (Chinese: 催婚) is a common phenomenon in China where parents and relatives pressure unmarried people and urge them to get married before they're 30, particularly females. Most parents hope their children can get married earlier, around 30 years old in China. Generally, parents will introduce them to potential people to date when parents feel anxious and worry about their children's unmarried status. One of the most popular ways is by asking their relatives and friends to find a proper marriage partner. Also, they will go to Matchmaking Corner and post marriage-seeking ads. The phenomenon connects to the ideology that females' marriage and relationship status undermine their success. Caring for the Next Generation Working Committee, a Communist Party-affiliated organization established by the State Council, surveyed in 2016 that 86% of people aged 25 to 35 experienced the pressure of getting married from their parents. Although the phenomenon of parental authority has weakened in recent years, many young people are still unable to defy their parents' wishes openly.

Different Perceptions on Cui Hun

There is an unavoidable value gap between the two generations regarding who and when they marry. Firstly, many older generations consider the ideal age to match 23 for women and 25 for men. In particular, females are expecting to marry before their late twenties, or they would be titled "Sheng Nu," in other words, "leftover women". However, as many young women pursue education and career, the average age of first marriage is delayed. For example, in 2005, people's average age of the first marriage was 24 for women and 26 for men in Shanghai. However, it became 28 for women and 30for men in 2014. Therefore, parents get more agitated when young people pursue their education and career without a partner in their late twenties. Secondly, older members consider marriage a necessary safeguard against sudden sickness or unexpected unemployment. In some extent, it conflicts with the younger generation, who value freedom and independence. Therefore, Cui Hun is a common phenomenon in China that many young people should deal with. However, parents' urge their children to get married is not a completely outdated behavior. When parents get old, they expect to rely on their children financially and mentally. They worry that unmarried children will not have a family support network as the relationship network plays a significant role in China.