Chinese Marriage Literature Review

Abstract: For a long time, it is a research highlight in the aspect of differences of status between Chinese and Western women in their marriages. Although, female’s positions of marriage depend on the social system and historical background, it presents the feature that women are living in a disadvantageous position in their marriages. To this situation, by the method of using the main character’s marriage in Dream of Red Mansions and Down-ton Abbey as examples, this article tries to make a literature review about the topic of woman’s marital status on the base of the recognition of woman’s weak position. Besides, this review will try to classify and analyze the status of Chinese and Western women in their marriages by summarizing the newest

2.1 Changes and reasons of Chinese female’s status in the marriage

In terms of the status of Chinese women in marriage, there are 7 papers discussing about this kind of problem.

2.1.1 Marriage with a great disparity between husband and wife—Jia She and his wife

For example, Yu Tingting (于婷婷 2014) wrote that as the result of the great disparity of the political status and family background, Jia and Xing’s marriage is in name only. However, Xing is more like a servant than a wife. Xing dared not speak in front of Jia She. Xing shamelessly begged concubines for her husband from Jia Baoyu’s grandma. She has been alienated by the feudal society and become one of the vulnerable groups, without her own feeling.

Lu Xian’e (卢仙娥 2014) wrote, “it is women that regard themselves as the vulnerable groups. For example, in the ancient China, people will congratulate on the birth of a boy, while they dislike the birth of a girl, especial mother-in-law. Although the view that men are superior to women is established by men, the preference of boys is instigated by women.

2.1.2 Marriage of association between strong enterprises—Wang Xifeng and Jia

2.2.1 Marriage of seeking money and status from each other—Robert and Cora

As far as Yan Zhaoxiang (阎照祥 2000) is concerned, modern British aristocracy is a social group with a strong sense of responsibility and family concept. Over the past several years, they used the aristocratic hierarchy system, the eldest son inherited system and practices and regulations carefully to maintain their own dignity. The suitable type of marriage is a way to maintain the noble marriage. As a result, the marriage of descendant of nobility, especially the heir, has been a serious problem that their parents concerned. In general, the son of nobility wants to marry woman who has a higher title than him, the second choice is to marry woman who will inherit a great property to make his family be richer suddenly. These ideas are similar with the wife’s side. The general rule is that marriage is conducive to the consolidation and rise of the family, whether in the aspect of economy or