Betrothal Letter, Gift Letter and Wedding Letter （三书：聘书、礼书和迎亲书）Three Letters and Six Etiquettes 三书六礼～～～～～～～～～In the ancient times, it was very important to follow a basic principle of Three Letters and Six Etiquettes（三书六礼）, since they were essential to a marriage. Three letters include Betrothal Letter, Gift Letter and Wedding Letter.Three Letters （三书：聘书、礼书和迎亲书）Betrothal LetterThis letter is the formal document of the engagement, a must in a marriage. It is sent by the perspective groom's family to the perspective bride's family.Gift LetterThis letter will be forwarded to the identified bride's family, listing types and quantity of gifts for the wedding once both parties accept the marriage.Wedding LetterThis letter is presented to the bride's family on the day of the wedding. It confirms the act of bringing the bride into the groom's family.Six Etiquettes （六礼：纳采、问名、纳吉、纳征、请期和亲迎）ProposingIf an unmarried boy's parents identify a girl as their future daughter-in-law, then they will find a matchmaker. Proposal used to be practiced by a matchmaker. The matchmaker will formally present his or her client's request to the identified girl's parents.Birthday matchingIf the potential bride's parents do not object the marriage, the matchmaker will ask for the girl's birthday and birthhour record to assure the compatibility of the potential bride and bridegroom. A fortune-telling master is hired to determine whether the two match each other. If the couple's birthdays and birthhours do not conflict according to astrology, the marriage will step into the next stage. Once there is a conflict, meaning the marriage will bring disasters to the boy's family or the girl's, the proposed marriage stops.Presenting betrothal giftsOnce birthdays match, the bridegroom's family will then arrange the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts, enclosing the betrothal letter, to the bride's family.Exchange Birthdays and Family TreeIf the groom and the bride's birthdays are OK (meaning that no disaster is predicted by the fortune teller if the two get married), the two families will exchange their family records/family tree.
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