The Symmetrical Ritual of the Ancient Bride's Descent from Her Palanquin and the Coffin's Exit (Part 2)

III. Why Design This 'Symmetry'? The core of the ancients' design for these two rituals lies in the psychological mechanism of 'Boundary Crossing'. • The Bride is 'Half-Human, Half-Deity': On her wedding day, the bride possesses extreme sacredness (the so-called 'bride god is supreme'), but she is also a 'stranger' entering the clan from an outside group, carrying unknown external energy. Therefore, a series of rituals like crossing a fire basin, stepping on tiles, and using a rice sieve are needed to 'purify' and 'filter out' evil spirits, allowing her to safely integrate into her husband's family. • The Deceased is 'Half-Human, Half-Ghost': The moment the coffin is carried out the door, the deceased is transforming from a 'family member in the living world' to an 'ancestor (or ghost) in the underworld'. This transitional space from the hall to outside the main gate is extremely dangerous. Smashing bowls and scattering money are meant to sever the deceased's attachment to the earthly home and protect the living present from the invasion of yin energy.