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| Chinese Bridal Sedan Chair |
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The chair-like sedan enclosed with color silk was one of the main
vehicles in the ancient time of China. Of course, it was mainly
used by the rich people. The poor had to rely on donkeys or their
own feet to travel. So it was an outstanding identity to have a
sedan rather than a noisy donkey. On special occasions, such as
a wedding ceremony, a sedan chair was used to take the pride to
the groom's house, even for the poor. Well, here is a story about
how people started the tradition.
The story is said to have something to do with the great powerful
emperor, Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, who was a very diligent emperor.
It is said he had made seven inspection tours to the far south
of China. And the story about how the sedan got used in people's
wedding just happened on his third tour.
One day, when the emperor and his men were marching in the mountains,
suddenly the guide reported that the march was hold up by a team
of people. So Emperor Qianlong got off the sedan and went walking
to the front to see what was the matter. It was a bride who was
clustered around with a wedding band and she was on a donkey's
back, happily. Seeing it was a happy event, Emperor Qianlong felt
very delighted. However, it was a bit serious because neither
of the teams would give way to the other. The emperor thought
out a way to solve the problem. He said to the bride, "Not
only would I like to give way to you, but also I would like to
lend you the sedan for your wedding if you make a poem instantly."
The bride agreed apparently not knowing who he was. Then she recited:
"See you tour; see me tour. No matter whoever is the host
on the road; See your sedan; see my donkey, clearly which is better
for my wedding. Your Honor, must be generous; lend me your vehicle
instead of my living animal? Who can say I am humble while you
are noble! No difference here in the middle, just the phenomena
poke fun at people." Emperor Qianlong was astonished that
a village woman had such deep thoughts on life, so he was willing
to lend her the showy sedan for her wedding. It made the wedding
ceremony so spectacular that the subsequent wedding ceremonies
appealed to a bridal sedan dearly for carrying the bride even
though it was only a simple sedan sometimes. It gradually became
a custom and was kept for many, many years until 1930's. Even
now, such sedans can be found in the parade on major Chinese festivals.
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