Jinmen – Traditional Values

Wedding rituals, which include the traditional objects displayed here, emphasise the resilience of family-focused and male-centred values in contemporary Jinmen. Nevertheless, the older generation who arrange these old customs, and shop owners selling traditional objects told me they suspected that these traditions are dying. Many young couples simply submit to their parents’ will to carry out traditional rituals, without really considering their symbolic meanings. Some couples want old rituals because they are essential elements of their imagined ‘perfect’ wedding. Is it possible that these marital customs only persist because of their superficial cultural image rather than the values they represent?

For more information and a closer look, please just click on the images in this gallery.

TSHUN-HUE ( 春花 ), HAIR ORNAMENTS<p> The groom’s mother pins handmade pairs of ornaments on the bride’s hair on the wedding day; they symbolise good fortune and male offspring.</p>
KIAT-Á-HUE ( 桔仔花 ), HAIR ORNAMENTS<p> The groom’s mother pins handmade pairs of ornaments on the bride’s hair on the wedding day; they symbolise good fortune and male offspring.</p>
KI-Á-HUE ( 枝仔花 ) , HAIR ORNAMENTS<p> The female relatives of both the groom and bride wear these hair ornaments on the wedding day to mark the shared happiness of the occasion.</p>
IÂN-TSÎNN (緣錢; LUCK MONEY, A COIN MADE OF LEAD THAT SYMBOLISES GOOD LUCK)<p> Iân-tsînn symbolise wellwishes for the bride to have good relationships with her marital family. They are used in several ritual steps during the bride’s journey from her natal home to the groom’s home.</p>
IÂN-TSÎNN (緣 錢; LUCK MONEY) RITUAL <p>When the bride gets into the car, her mother prepares some honey water with two iân-tsînn inside, then touches the bride’s lips and palms with the honey water. Traditionally, the bride then held two iân-tsînn in her mouth (although now she uses her hands, to avoid lead poisoning). This is to express the wish that the bride will say sweet words that please the members of her marital family and build good relationships with them.</p>
IÂN-TSÎNN (緣 錢; LUCK MONEY) RITUAL<p>After the car departs, the bride’s father or mother splashes a bowl of water containing many iân-tsînn at the rear of the car and says “to wish you (the bride) good relations with others and to be adored.”</p>
HUE-PHÈ ( 花帕 ; BABY WRAP CARRIER) <p>This black-and-white pattern of baby wrap carrier is stitched with luck money and is still widely used in Jinmen and southern Fujian, China.</p>
Û-SU-KÛN ( 圍司裙 ; APRON) <p>Traditionally, the bride would wear this apron, stitched with luck money, on top of her mourning clothes when her parents-in-law passed away. This marked her status as a daughter-in-law. Nowadays this apron is given to the bride as a symbol of tradition; it is no longer actually used.</p>
FANS <p> These are used as part of the ritual of the bride leaving her parents’ home. When the car embarks on the way to the groom’s home, the bride throws a fan out of the window to symbolically get rid of bad temper and to represent her entrance into a new stage of life.</p>

View other galleries: MAKING CONNECTIONS | SELF-FASHIONING