The Gift of Holding Hands: Meanings and Legal Contracts of Betrothal Gifts in Ancient Engagements (Part 2)

The 'Material and Livelihood Era' from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to嶺南 (Lingnan) tradition. In later periods, betrothal gifts gradually evolved into various practical daily necessities that showcased the groom's economic strength and supplemented the bride's family, mainly including four categories: 1. Precious Items (Grand Betrothal Gift) • Betrothal money and lucky money: Cash in red or gold packaging, thanking the bride's parents for their upbringing (small betrothal gift is also called wet nurse money or clothing money). • Gold jewelry: Usually hairpins, earrings, rings (bracelets, necklaces), commonly known as 'four adornments of gold' or 'five adornments of gold,' which are a meeting gift from the mother-in-law to the daughter-in-law. 2. Food and Meat/Alcohol (Three Sacrifices and Wine Gifts) • Wedding cakes (Bridal cakes): Chinese-style large cakes or dragon-and-phoenix cakes, often a load or dozens of boxes, given to the bride's side to announce the good news to relatives and friends. • Three sacrifices of meat: Two pairs of live chickens (symbolizing prosperity), a whole pork loin cut in half (symbolizing 'joyful flight in pairs'), and two large fish (symbolizing 'abundance/influence' and surplus year after year). • Fine wine: Usually four bottles or jars of wine, symbolizing peace throughout the four seasons. 3. Auspicious Dried Goods (Four Jingguo / Six-Color Wedding Candies) • Dried longan (round fortune): Symbolizing completeness and abundant blessings. Traditionally, the bride would secretly eat two, meaning the groom would only have eyes for the bride after marriage. • Dried lychee, dried walnuts, and peanuts in the shell: Collectively called the Four Jingguo, blessing descendants and continuous prosperity. • Winter melon candy, preserved tangerine, rock sugar: Symbolizing a sweet married life and growing old together.