The Cultural Analysis On Symbols Of Wedding Ceremony In Hefei City

As a particular cultural phenomenon in human social life, the wedding ceremonyplays an important part in marriage system and the whole culture system in whichpeople live. The thesis regards symbols in wedding ceremony as the object of studyand finishes case study in hefei city. Based on detailed information about weddingceremony in hefei city through literature gathering, deep interviewing and participantobservation, this thesis aims to expound the deep meanings of these symbols inwedding ceremony and have a comprehensive understanding of local culturalbackground.The author clearly defines wedding ceremony which includes three parts: engagementceremony, formal wedding ceremony and visiting the bride's family. After detaileddescription of the whole process, the author analyzes three representative symbols.First, "hong ren" is an essential role which appears in the former two parts of weddingceremony. In accordance with traditional marriage system in hefei city, hong ren is notonly the important medium connecting bride and bridegroom before marriage but alsohave functions of transforming information and conciliation. Great social changesbring about the weakening of these functions. Moreover, some functions have alreadydisappeared. However, people still need to find out two symbolic hong ren to replacethem and what's more, they often choose male as the best gender to be hong ren. Theauthor analyzes the functional change of hong ren, points out that the existence ofsymbolic hong ren actually comes from the interaction of traditional marriage cultureand human subjective experience and expounds bearing culture which is reflectedthrough people's behavior to choose male as hong ren. Second, the author analyzesanother symbol—"jiao men". "Jiao men" is an important custom in hefei city.Bridegroom's families and friends knock at bride's door loudly and continuously andin the meantime, bride's families and friends prevent them from opening the door. Thethesis expounds cultural background and mental factors behind their behaviors and the function of "jiao men". Third, some words are always used in the whole processof wedding ceremony to express people's happiness and blessedness, the authoranalyzes their diversity and function and relations with culture. Finally, according togeographical environment in which hefei city is located, the author expounds therelation between marriage custom of hefei with some other regional cultures.