How feudal Vietnam handled marriage two hundred years ago

By Dac Duc May 4, 2016 | 03:18 am PT

The reenactment of a princess’ wedding during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) was part of Royal Night at the Hue Festival on May 1.

Been organized since 2006, Royal night is a historic space complex with a variety of event, traditional games and Hues royal gastronomy.

Organized since 2006, “Royal Night” is a historic space with a variety of events, traditional games and Hue’s royal gastronomy.

One of the most interesting events from the night is princess wedding under Nguyen dynasty. Being the kings offspring, the princess cant find anyone of the same status to marry. As a result, her marriage would be condescending - meaning she deigns to marry someone. Despite a condescension, the process of choosing a prince is still not easy.

One of the most interesting events is the reinactment of a princess’ wedding under the Nguyen Dynasty. As the king’s daughter, the princess cannot find anyone of the same status to marry. As a result, her marriage would be demeaning, so the process of choosing a prince is not easy.

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The king orders the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Defense to list five young sons of prominent mandarins, who must be smart, good-looking and able-bodied, to choose from. Once the prince is chosen, the wedding is conducted at the Imperial City.

The princesss wedding consists of six parts, two of which conducted everyday. In the first day, the prince-to-bes family will bring the offerings into the royal court which are cattle, moonshine, silk, gold and silver. The second day happens with the same amount of offerings from the princes side. The third one is the most important day with the offerings being more spritual than material, which are a pair of swans held in two separated cages symbolizing faith, while one hundred coins and a five-color thread box symbolizing prosperity and fertility.

The princess and prince wear traditional attire for the ceremony under the observation of a mandarin chosen by the king as the master of ceremonies. Having a son chosen as prince is an honor, one that comes with lots of fortune granted by the king and queen. The wedding consists of six parts conducted over three days. On the first day, the prince-to-be’s family will bring offerings to the royal court such as cattle, moonshine, silk, gold and silver. More offerings are presented on the second day.

The third one is the most important day with the offerings being more spritual than material, which are a pair of swans held in two separated cages symbolizing faith, while one hundred coins and a five-color thread box symbolizing prosperity and fertility.

The third day is the most important one. A pair of swans are presented in seperate cages symbolizing faith, while one hundred coins and a five-color thread box symbolize prosperity and fertility.

After the ceremony comes the welcoming ritual with two mandarins and three hundred soldiers waiting. The prince in wedding attire go asking the king to receive the princess.

After the ceremony comes the welcoming ritual with two mandarins and three hundred soldiers. The prince asks the king to receive the princess.

The master of ceremonies leads the way.

After the wedding ends, the princess is invited into the sitting room of princes family. The princes side start the banquet. The couple will conduct the required ceremonies including eating from the same dish and drinking spirit from cups made the two halves of the same calabash. The princess will debut to the parents-in-law in the following day. She will pray four times to the West. The princes parents will stand in the East, returning two praying. The next day, the young couple will present themselves to the king. The prince will be granted third level mandarin attire, two velvet suits and two saddles.

After the wedding, the princess is invited into the sitting room of the prince’s family. The prince’s side start the banquet. The couple will conduct the required ceremonies including eating from the same dish and drinking spirit from cups made from two halves of the same calabash. The princess is presented to the parents-in-law the following day, when she offers four prayers to the West. The prince’s parents stand to the East and return two prayers. The next day, the young couple present themselves to the king. The prince is granted third level mandarin attire, two velvet suits and two saddles.

The 2016 Hue Festival is taking place from April 28 to May 4.