[Vox pop] How high can the bride price in China be?
A bride price, or payment given by the groom to the bride’s family, is one of China’s longstanding marriage customs. But soaring bride prices have sparked debate and led to government intervention. Just how much is the typical bride price from the groom’s side or the dowry from the bride’s family in different parts of China? ThinkChina’s Yi Jina and Lu Lingming put the question to some Chinese individuals.
In Chinese marriage traditions, the bride price is a payment in the form of money or property given by the groom to the bride’s family. What was once a cherished custom thanking the bride’s family for bringing up a good daughter has become contentious due to the exorbitant amounts given, and sometimes demanded.
Quarrels over the bride price by the groom’s side and dowry by the bride’s family have sometimes led to couples in China breaking up and families going bankrupt. Among the various measures put in place, the Supreme People’s Court has issued provisions prohibiting the soliciting of property under the guise of marriage and betrothal gifts.
Views on the bride price and dowry vary widely across China, reflecting regional differences and evolving attitudes. A modern perspective seems to be emerging, particularly in urban areas, with couples observing the practice more for its symbolic significance than monetary value. Some view it as a token of their commitment and respect, while others see it as parental support in starting a new family, whatever the amount given.
