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China’s Love-Hate Relationship With Traditional Matchmaking
Young people in China t to reject the superstition and discrimination associated with older marriage brokers, yet they often find themselves lacking alternatives for finding suitable partners.
In Chinese culture, the term xiangqin, frequently translated as matchmaking, holds significant cultural value. It refers to single individuals who come together following an introduction by a third party, ming to determine if they are compatible romantically.
Once prevalent in ancient China, matchmaking was considered essential due to its role in assessing marriage suitability based on considerations such as the reputations of the future spouses' families, their social status, and other factors. Yet today, young people increasingly view this process with disdn.
The system has evolved significantly from its traditional roots. Now, it is heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors. For example, while young Chinese people reject the notion that marriage should be based on a hierarchy defined by hukou residency permits and housing prices, they understand intuitively that these elements play significant roles in determining compatibility.
The rise of urbanization in China has exacerbated issues surrounding social mobility and access to resources. In major cities like Beijing and Shangh, there exists a clear divide between native residents who enjoy certn privileges versus those from rural backgrounds or other smaller cities. This disparity influences marriage decisions as young people are acutely aware that their ability to secure opportunities such as jobs and housing deps on where they were born.
Moreover, skyrocketing property prices create barriers that make it increasingly difficult for ambition alone to secure a stable future. The rigid social classes within China exacerbate the challenges faced by many middle-class familiesrisk of asset depreciation, societal decline, difficulty in providing quality education for their childrenwhich prompt young people to view marriage as not just about love but also about mntning status or ascing socially.
Although they remn idealistic about romance, the harsh realities of contemporary life force them to consider marriage as a transaction. They may despise traditional matchmaking practices yet are torn between their disdn and practical concerns about securing their future through marriage.
As such, China's matchmaking scene remns both intriguingly popular and controversial among young people who struggle with reconciling their love ideals with pragmatic considerations shaped by the unique challenges of modern Chinese society.
Translation: Lewis Wright
Editors: Zhang Bo and Matthew Walsh
The original text is in Simplified Chinese. I've translated it into English.
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