The Logic Behind The Great Number Of Betrothal Gifts

The phenomenon of great number of betrothal gifts in rural areas is an important issue that has emerged during the transition period of China's social modernization,this problem is widespread in China's vast rural areas,especially in economically underdeveloped regions.However,the research on great number of betrothal gifts mainly focuses on the Han nationality rural areas,but there is little research on the Hui nationality rural areas.This paper selects Xintian Village,Xintianbao Hui nationality,Huining County,Gansu Province as a case.Through meticulous field work,used ethnology and sociology perspective,and combined with previous research results,we attempted to analyze in depth the problems associated with great number of betrothal gifts in the Hui villages.This article uses two chapters to introduce the relevant social and cultural backgrounds of the village's groups,history,beliefs,marriages,betrothal gifts and so on.Through research on Xintian Village,it has been found that the great number of betrothal gifts has seriously affected the production and living of the local people.faced with the great number of betrothal gifts,most families are unable to pay with household savings.They can only rely on borrowing money,loans,paying installments in phases,and getting their daughters in marriage to get money.Therefore,in the process of paying great number of betrothal gifts,the man always tries to bargain to reducing the payment of bride price,in order to ease the family economic pressure,in this process,the matchmaker has played an important role.After studying the appearance of great number of betrothal gifts,this paper deeply explores the reasons behind the great number of the betrothal gift.This article believes that the main reasons for the phenomenon of great number of betrothal gifts is the gender imbalance,face effect,prevailing concept of compensation,sharp decline in the effectiveness of ritual culture,the outflow of women's resources and extravagant social corruption.The creation of great number of betrothal gifts jeopardizes the internal balance of local individuals,families and societies.The social aspects mainly cause disputes concerning the return of the betrothal gift,encourage bad social practices,and affect local economic development.In the end,the author thinks that the great number of betrothal gifts has seriously deviated from the spiritual connotation of the traditional ritual culture.It reflects the decline of traditional ritual culture in China's rural society,it has led to a sharp drop in the effectiveness of control over China's rural social order.The "ritual" is a disorderly society,so it is necessary to let the ceremony fall back to its original meaning.It is imperative to promote,inherit,and develop ritual cultures that are beneficial to contemporary China.