In ancient times, women usually left the palace around the age of fifteen. The Inner Canon of the Book of Rites states, 'Women spend five years in the palace.'. In ancient times, women would tie their hair at the age of fifteen and use a tassel to tie it. Therefore, women who turned fifteen were called 'ji tassels', indicating that they had reached the age to leave the court. Different dynasties have different regulations on the age of women leaving the imperial court, but it is usually around fifteen years old.
The custom of ancient women getting married
1. Open your face
Face opening refers to the practice of ancient women removing hair from their face and neck, and trimming their temples before getting married. Before getting married, she was a 'yellow haired girl', but after getting married, it means getting married.
2. High bun hairstyle
Unmarried women wear small braids of hair on their temples and at the back of their heads before reaching adulthood, but after marriage, they must tie all their hair up on their heads and tie it in a bun at the back of their heads.
3. Red Cap Head
In ancient weddings, the bride needed to cover her head with a red veil to cover her shame and ward off evil spirits. This veil must be lifted by the groom when he enters the bridal chamber.
4. Sitting in a sedan chair
In ancient times, when the groom received the bride, he would carry a sedan chair to the bride's house, and the bride would sit in the sedan chair with the accompaniment of a matchmaker or a respected elder. Insert magpies, phoenixes, and the Eight Immortals on the top of the sedan chair, fluttering in the wind.
5. Fire pot
After entering the hall, the bride should step over the brazier, symbolizing seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, turning misfortune into good fortune, and hoping that the days after marriage will be prosperous and auspicious.
6. Cross saddle
In ancient times, when getting married, a saddle would be placed at the doorstep of the groom's house. When the bride entered her husband's house, she would symbolically ride on the saddle, with "saddle" and "safety" in harmony, symbolizing peace and longevity.