In ancient China, marriage happened through “the parents' order and the matchmaker's word.” Men and women entered marriage without knowing each other. Two families of equal social status often married their children to each other. The man and woman got to know each other through their matchmaker's intercession.
Wedding
It is a Chinese tradition for the bride to wear a red dress, called a qipao, and to cover her face with a red veil on the wedding day. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and good luck. Today, modern weddings call for the bride to wear a white bridal gown, and a third ball gown throughout the evening.
Marriage
Many couples in China, especially royal families, and richer people, were forced into arranged marriages that were usually arranged by the parents of both parties.
Why Did Arranged Marriage Exist?
China's matchmaking tradition stretches back more than 2,000 years, to the first imperial marriage broker in the late Zhou dynasty. Arranged marriage thankfully became illegal in 1950. China passed the New Marriage Law, which outlawed arranged marriages and concubines, and enabled women to divorce their husbands.
It existed for many reasons. Power, wealth, reputation, the appearance of their future children, etc. Arranged marriage was more of a tactic for future success. While it did seem a good idea to the parents, it caused their offspring to become depressed, with even a lot of them killing themselves, their partner, or their children.