Double Happiness "囍" is a popular Chinese character that has become part of Chinese culture regardless of the religious persuasion of the person. There is a story behind the well known Chinese character double happiness.
The story unfolded during the Tang dynasty in China. A young man was on the way to the capital to appear for the imperial examination. The outcome of the examination would qualify the candidate who tops the examination to be a minister of the royal court.
He was on his way when he fell ill while passing through a village in the mountain. He chanced upon a herbal practitioner who took him in to his home for care and treatment. Thanks to the doctor, and his young daughter, he soon recovered.
He developed a friendship and love for the young lady and leaving the doctor's house was difficult. Before the young man left, the young girl wrote down complementary couplet for the parting part of the the right hand part of the young man. This was the practice of educated people in those days. He left and promised to return for her hand after the examination.
The young man appeared for the examination and came out top. The emperor was impressed with the scholastic ability of the young man. During the royal interview, the emperor tested him with half of a couplet and asked him to complete the other half.
The story went that he recalled what his young love had written for him and realized that it was the perfect answer to the emperor’s couplet.
He answered the emperor with her words. The emperor was more than impressed and appointed him as a minister in the court.
The young man sought clearance for him to visit to his hometown. before assuming his full duties The young man went straight to the young girl and told her about his acing the examination and his royal encounter.
He kept his promise that he would come back to her for her hand in marriage. They got married.
On their wedding day, both of them wrote the same right half of a couplet, which had brought them together. This is how the double happiness character, word or couplet "囍" came to be.
Since then, this character of double happiness "囍" has represented love, happiness, and luck, and has evolved into part of the social custom for the Chinese wedding.
He had both happiness of success and love. He had double happiness. His falling sick on way to capital was a minor set back - a blessing in disguise. This recalls to mind what the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 said that a misfortune like a storm will not last and calm seas will return.
The story too demonstrated that behind every successful man is a woman. There is need for coupling of sorts for more goodness as in the couplet. As what the sages of old in China said, there is need for yin and yang synchronization - synergy.
This too was indeed stressed by the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨. The couplet double happiness is made of two of the same word 喜 put side by side to form "囍" .
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He was on his way when he fell ill while passing through a village in the mountain. He chanced upon a herbal practitioner who took him in to his home for care and treatment. Thanks to the doctor, and his young daughter, he soon recovered.
He developed a friendship and love for the young lady and leaving the doctor's house was difficult. Before the young man left, the young girl wrote down complementary couplet for the parting part of the the right hand part of the young man. This was the practice of educated people in those days. He left and promised to return for her hand after the examination.
The young man appeared for the examination and came out top. The emperor was impressed with the scholastic ability of the young man. During the royal interview, the emperor tested him with half of a couplet and asked him to complete the other half.
The story went that he recalled what his young love had written for him and realized that it was the perfect answer to the emperor’s couplet.
He answered the emperor with her words. The emperor was more than impressed and appointed him as a minister in the court.
The young man sought clearance for him to visit to his hometown. before assuming his full duties The young man went straight to the young girl and told her about his acing the examination and his royal encounter.
He kept his promise that he would come back to her for her hand in marriage. They got married.
He had both happiness of success and love. He had double happiness. His falling sick on way to capital was a minor set back - a blessing in disguise. This recalls to mind what the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 said that a misfortune like a storm will not last and calm seas will return.
The story too demonstrated that behind every successful man is a woman. There is need for coupling of sorts for more goodness as in the couplet. As what the sages of old in China said, there is need for yin and yang synchronization - synergy.
There are many other sites you can go to by entering search words - Chinese Wedding Preparations in search engine. The modern Chinese wedding should still include some traditions of old.
Don't forget auspicious red umbrella
for heaven to shelter the bride
and teapot set for tea ceremony.
