Dowry Disputes Identified as Social Issue and Cause of Declining Birth Rate
Eight Ministries Including Minjeongbu to Correct Bad Practices by End of Next Year
[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] "Please return the engagement gift (dowry and bride price) of 180,000 yuan. This is money earned with great difficulty."
Recently, a man named Xiao Wei (a pseudonym) living in Shangqiu City, Henan Province, China, sparked controversy by hanging a banner with this message on his car and protesting.
According to China Youth Daily on the 24th, Xiao Wei met a woman named A through a matchmaker in February last year. At that time, Xiao was 25 years old. He was considered an older young man in his village.
Xiao and A decided to marry just one month after meeting. Xiao’s parents gave A an engagement gift. Part of the gift’s cost was even covered by a loan.
Later, A changed her mind. She refused to marry and stopped meeting Xiao. She also refused to return the gift.
Xiao’s family filed a lawsuit against A to recover the engagement gift of 179,000 yuan (approximately 35.5 million KRW). Despite the lawsuit, A did not return the 179,000 yuan, so Xiao took to street protests.
The Civil Code of the People's Republic of China prohibits receiving money or goods under the pretext of marriage. It legally forbids demanding wealth in the name of marriage or using traditions as a means of wealth accumulation. However, the issue of bride price often becomes a social problem in China. Even within China, bride price is considered one of the harmful customs in Chinese weddings, but it has not disappeared.
Regarding the origin of the Chinese marriage bride price, Deng Li, a researcher at the Academy of Social Sciences, explained, "Bride price originated from ancient Chinese customs" and "it is a way to transfer some wealth between families." However, he added that excessive bride price has become a social problem and, in some cases, leads to legal disputes.
Ultimately, the Chinese government stepped in on the issue of marriage bride price. The Ministry of Civil Affairs (Ministry of Public Security) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, along with six other departments, jointly issued a notice banning excessive bride price and extravagant weddings in rural areas. They plan to campaign to correct these improper customs by the end of next year.
The eight departments, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, stated that traditions have evolved over time, and excessive bride price has become an economic burden. They pledged to eliminate improper traditions and bad customs. They also vowed to regulate acts that damage the value of marriage, such as demanding excessive bride price or encouraging raising the bride price.
They also added that they would regulate extravagant weddings.
Chinese authorities believe that excessive marriage bride price and lavish weddings are hindering marriage and that these harmful customs are leading to a decline in marriage rates. As of 2021, the number of marriages in China was 7.64 million, the lowest since statistics began in 1986. The decline in marriage rates leads to a decrease in birth rates, which could ultimately result in population decline, according to Chinese authorities.
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