SOCI 2080 Body Project_ Jacky Wong
Background: In the 1920s to 1940s, China’s first wave of Westernization brought new influences, especially in urban areas. As the Republic of China modernized, Western-style weddings and customs, such as wearing white dresses, began to emerge, particularly among the elite, marking a shift from traditional marriage practices.
<aside> 1935: Mass Marriage Ceremony in Nanjing, China
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<aside> 1940s: Western Wedding Photo, Guangzhou
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<aside> 1927: Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Soong May-ling (宋美齡) held their wedding ceremony in Shanghai, December 1927
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<aside> 1940s: Wearing a white dress had come into fashion
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Background: In the 1950s, under the People's Republic of China, marriage practices became simpler, reflecting socialist values. The 1950 Marriage Law emphasized monogamy, equality, and freedom of choice, with modest ceremonies often tied to national symbols like Chairman Mao’s portrait.
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1955: Couples pledged to marry under the photo of Chairman Mao, along with Chinese national flag
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1955: a poster saying "Freedom in marriage, blissful and happy”; alongside with the first marriage law in PRC, emphasising monogamy and freedom of marriage
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1954: dancing joyfully in a simple, modest setting; with background saying “Fight for the long-standing peace in the world”
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1950s: Marriage Certificate, 1950s, Beijing
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Background: From the 1960s to 1970s, during the Cultural Revolution, marriages became politically charged, with ceremonies featuring slogans and symbols of loyalty to Chairman Mao and the Communist Party. Personal life was subordinated to state ideology, with "late marriage" promoted to prioritize service to the Party.
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1968: Couples register for marriage under the slogan of “Long Live Chairman Mao”; Each holding a farming tool with red ribbons. The woman doesn't seem particularly happy.
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1974: A poster saying “Chose late marriage to dedicate youth to the Party”
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1968: Friends of the couple hung signs on their chests that read "Groom on the socialist path"「走社會主義道路的新郎」 and "Bride on the socialist path 「走社會主義道路的新娘」; a typical move under the context of cultural revolution
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1968: Marriage ****Certificate with Quotations from Chairman Mao at the top
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Background: From the 1970s to 2000s, after the Cultural Revolution, state control over marriage eased, allowing genuine love to flourish. Couples expressed their love in simple, modest settings, showing pure, heartfelt connections free from political influence.
1978
1980s
1990s
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1978
1989
1990s
Background: From the 2000s to the present, China has seen a rise in individualism and diversity, with personal freedom becoming more prominent. The country’s rapid modernization, alongside growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights, has fostered a more open, diverse approach to love and relationships