Extreme Things People Pull Off to Get Married in China These Days

① Gather at the Park If You Want to Get Married

For a while, public proposals in China seemed to decline. However, a recent case involving a woman in her 40s, a doctor residing in Shanghai, has once again stirred up the discussion around public proposals.

The buzz surrounds the 11 conditions she has set forth. These conditions include education, income, and appearance, among many others, sparking various reactions from netizens.

However, the issue of public proposals in China is not limited solely to this case. Public proposals in parks have gained attention on various social media platforms.

Let’s delve into this unique Chinese culture of “public proposals.”

In fact, in China, just like in Korea, the younger generation increasingly views marriage as a choice rather than a necessity.

Of course, in the past, parents often arranged marriages. Still, since the reforms and opening-up policies of the 1980s, a shift towards marriages based on individuals’ romantic relationships has occurred.

Nevertheless, public proposals persist in China. As the name suggests, public proposals involve widely announcing and seeking a potential spouse among various people. One of China’s most representative forms of public proposals is “Xiāngqīnjiǎo.”

Xiāngqīnjiǎo, meaning “matchmaking corner,” refers to public proposals that take place in parks.

These proposals happen in specific parks located across various regions of China. Individuals write down their own information, similar to a resume, and place it where people gather in these parks. They make their own information public to strangers and list the criteria they are looking for in a spouse.

In most cases, many parents visit the park hoping to find a suitable spouse for their sons or daughters, with their primary concerns being the prospective spouse’s income, location, and financial capabilities.

On the other hand, people make public proposals in various locations, not just in parks. Xiāngqīnjiǎo includes “offline public proposals,” but there are also “online public proposals.”

In reality, on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, there are numerous posts where people search for their future spouses. These posts include details about their birth year, physical characteristics, educational background, and the qualities they seek in a partner. Social media facilitates what can be seen as “conditional marriages” taking place in this process.

② Marriage: Personal Choice vs. Parental Pressure

The culture of “blind dates” also plays a significant role. Known as “xiangqin” in Chinese, these matchmaking meetings have deep roots in China. Therefore, despite the increase in love marriages, arranged marriages through parental introductions still occur frequently.

If one hasn’t spent a long time with someone, the best way to get to know them quickly is through their “criteria.” When the individual’s qualifications align with their potential partner’s, it often leads to marriage. This practice is common in many countries, but China is unique because this process usually occurs “publicly.”

They choose to get married, leading to public proposals, to escape their parents’ pressure and avoid marginalization in society.

The so-called “matchmaking culture” also plays a role in this. People call it 相亲 (xiangqin), a deeply rooted culture in China. Therefore, despite the increase in love marriages, parents still arrange many marriages.

If you haven’t spent a long time with someone, the best way to understand the other person in a short period is their ‘conditions.’

When your specifications match the other person’s specifications, it leads to marriage. In any country, many people marry based on someone’s situation. However, China is unique because this process occurs publicly.

③ What do you think of China’s public proposals?

In the past, Chinese millionaires even organized single club parties as selection events for public proposals.

2,700 women from different professions applied to participate, and they selected 217 of them. However, the selection criteria, which included appearance and financial capability, sparked controversy.

The reverse has also occurred. Wealthy single Chinese women have openly searched for husbands through marriage agency matchmaking events.

Applicants included university professors, government officials, entrepreneurs, and even Chinese nationals living in the United States, with over 300 people applying. Such instances highlight the ongoing culture of public proposals in China.

Regarding China’s public proposal culture, netizens have left comments such as, “Would one really be happy marrying like that?” and “It’s a unique culture that surprisingly persists in the age of online dating.”

By. Seo Sung-min (fv_editor@fastviewkorea.com)