Process of Korean tradtional marriage

1. Eui Hon (Matchmaking)

Parents usually would gather information about prospective daughters-in-laws or sons-in-law and their social class, education, and family lineages. After that, the groom's parents would send a proposal of marriage to the bride's parents, who would either accept or decline the proposal on behalf of their daughter. In this process, only both parents could meet their prospective daughters-in-law or sons-in-law. The new couple often meeting for the first time at their wedding ceremony.

2. Napchae (Date Setting)

After the proposal was accepted, the groom's parents would send a Saju, which specified the year, month, date, and exact hour of the groom's birth, according to the lunar calendar, and deliver it to the bride's family. Rather than sealing the envelope, the groom's family wrapped the envelope in bamboo branches then tied ti with red and blue thread. Finally, the entire package was wrapped with Sajubo, a wrapping cloth with red fabric on the inside and blue on the outside.

Based on the information contained in the Saju, a fortune teller determined the best date for the wedding. The bride's family then sent a Yeongil to the groom's family that stated the wedding date and inquired about the groom's body size. These days, people usually take Nappae instead of Napchae.

(2) Delivering a Saju

When the groom's family send Saju to the bride's, they get up early and offer worship at the ancestral shrine with Saju. Also The bride's parents wear formal clothes, take saju politely, and then inform their ancestors about marriage at the ancestral shrine.

After that, the bride's parents wirte the answer and They entertained the deliverer with all kinds of delicacies. The groom's father inform their ancestors about marriage at the ancestral shrine after gettting answer.

(Saju)

(2) Yeongil

After taking Saju, the bride's family send the wedding date on white paper and Yeongil, wrapping them together, to the groom's

3. Nappae (Exchanging Valuables)

Before the wedding, the groom's family sent presents to the bride and her family in a box called a Ham. Additionally, the Hamjinabi (person who delivered the Ham) and a small group of close friends of the groom. The bride's family would have a small party for the group, offering them food and drink for their efforts. The ceremony of delivering the Ham has evolved into a major event for friends of the groom, with the bearers "selling" the contents of Ham to the bride's parents.

The Ham usually contained 3 items. The Honseo (marriage paper), Chaedan was a collection of red and blue fabrics, used to make clothing. The blue fabrics were wrapped with red threads, while the red fabrics were wrapped with blue threads. The two colors represented the philosophy of Eum/Yang (Yin/Yang).            

(Ham - Hope chest)

(1) Hon Seo (Marriage paper)

It is wrapped in black silk, specified the name of the sender and the purpose (marriage) of sending. It symbolized the dedication of the wife to only one husband. The wife was to keep this document with her forever, having it buried with her when she died.

The Honseo was a collection of other valuables for the bride from the groom's parents.

(Honseo - Marriage paper)

4. Chinyoung (Wedding Ceremony)

Traditionally, the wedding ceremony took place at the house of the bride's family. The groom usually rode a horse or pony and his attendants or servants would walk to the bride's house. The attendants often played musical instruments to make the mood more festive.

(1) Jeonanrye (Presentation of Wild Geese)

During the procession, the Girukabi (person leading the way) held a single wooden Kireogi (wild goose). Upon reaching the bride's house, the Girukabi gave the Kireogi to the groom who then placed it on a small table. After bowing twice to his future mother-in-law, she would take the Kireogi into the house.

There are three reason to use Kireogi (wild goose) and people would want to imitate wild goose's virtues.

First, Wild geese keep their promise of love. They ordinarily live for about 150-200 years. They would never find another, when lost their partner.

Second, Wild geese keep public order(vertical one). When they fly, leader make a noise, follower do that.

Third, Wild geese leave a trace. So it means people follow them and leave a great achivement.

(Kireogi - wild geese)

(Bowing) 

- Gyobaerye (Bowing)

This often marked the first time that the bride and groom saw each other. The groom and bride each had two attendants who helped them throughout the ceremony. First, the groom walked to the east side of the wedding table. Then the bride walked to the west end.

The bride and groom then faced each other across the wedding table. The helpers washed the hands of the bride and groom. The washing of their hands symbolized cleansing themsleves for the ceremony.

With the aid of her helpers, the bride bowed twice to the groom. With the aid of his helpers, the groom bowed back once to the bride. The bride then bowed two more times to the groom, who bowed back once more. They finished by kneeling down and facing each other.

The bowing represented the promise of commitment to each other.

- Hapgeunrye (Drinking)

This part of the ceremony had two main variations, due to regional diffferences. The first variation had the couple drinking from the same cup, with their assistants passing it back and forth between bride and groom. The second variation had them drinking from separate halves of a gourd. The drinking signified the destiny of the new husband and wife, as well as their harmony together. Using two halves of the same gourd further symbolized that the bride and groom each made up one half and only together could they be considered whole.

First, one of the helpers poured alcohol into a small cup for the groom, who then drank it. Another helper poured for the bride who sipped it or only pretended to drink. The groom's helper then poured into the cup again (or used the gourd in the other variation) and the groom drank again. The bride's helper poured again, with the bride sipping or pretending to drink again. Finally, the grpom and bride joined together and bowed three times: once to their parents, once to their ancestors, and once to the guests.

5. Pyebaek (Bowing to Husband's Parents)

Immediately after the wedding, the bride met with her new parents-in-law. This ceremony took place in an area of the main living room sectioned off with a folding screen. The groom's father sat in the east side, while the groom's mother sat in the west. The bride bowed to them four times, showing her respect to her husband's family and ancestors and expressing her loyalty. She often presented them with a small gift of food.

(pyebaek)