A Nanjing district is among many parts of China to be attempting the reformation of marriage customs. Supposedly rooted in rituals to expel evil spirits, some customs have been distorted to the extent they are now regarded as vulgar or even incestuous.
A 南京 district is among many parts of China to be attempting the reformation of marriage customs.据说植根于驱除邪灵的仪式，一些习俗已经被扭曲到现在被认为是粗俗甚至乱伦的程度。
Jianye District in Nanjing has been confirmed as a “National Experimental Zone for the Reform of Marriage Customs”. It joins at least 14 other cities and districts all over China designated as such by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
南京市建邺区被确定为“国家婚俗改革试验区”。它与中华人民共和国民政部指定的中国其他至少 14 个城市和区一样。
As syndicated by Sina Finance, it has been reported that the main task of the Experimental Zones is to curb unhealthy customs in marriage ceremonies. Commonplace customs deemed to be unhealthy include highly-expensive betrothal gifts, extravagance and waste, and vulgar activities.
据新浪财经报道，实验区的主要任务是遏制婚俗习俗。礼金昂贵、铺张浪费、庸俗行为等被认为是不健康的风俗习惯。
The move comes as the Chinese populace has in large grown tired of such rituals over the past few years.
此举出台之际，中国民众在过去几年中已经厌倦了此类仪式。
In our very own Jiangsu Province, the coastal city of Yancheng has a common local wedding custom that in fact alludes to incest between the groom’s father and his daughter-in-law. Footage of the custom taking place went viral in 2018 when a drunken groom’s father passionately embraced his new daughter-in-law. He then grabbed her from behind and forcefully kissed her in front of a banquet hall full of guests, reported the Global Times.
在我们江苏省，沿海城市盐城有一个当地常见的婚礼习俗，实际上暗指新郎的父亲和儿媳之间的乱伦。 2018 年，这一习俗的视频在网上疯传，当时一位醉酒的新郎父亲热情地拥抱了他的新儿媳。据《环球时报》报道，他随后在宾客满堂的宴会厅前从背后抓住她并强行亲吻她。
Defenders of the tradition pointed to the filial piety for which Yancheng is famed. He Linglong, an expert in the city’s folk culture, countered, “Some traditional culture has been ruined by the vulgar tastes of these people, which have turned wedding hazing from a relatively innocent folk custom to crude, offensive revelry”.
这一传统的捍卫者指出盐城以孝道闻名。该市民俗文化专家何玲珑反驳说，“一些传统文化被这些人的低俗趣味所破坏，使得婚礼欺辱从一种相对纯真的民俗变成了粗俗、无礼的狂欢”。
Bottoms, it turns out, feature prominently. Another popular wedding “game” often practiced in many places, including here in Nanjing, is one whereby the bride is made to identify her husband out of a group of other male guests by the feel of their bottom.
事实证明，下装占据了显着的位置。另一种流行的婚礼“游戏”在许多地方（包括南京这里）经常进行，是让新娘通过摸屁股从一群男宾客中辨认出自己的丈夫。
And the other key wedding participants rarely escape embarrassment. Bridesmaids can be molested in front of a jeering crowd and a groom made to wear women’s clothing before being tied up to a lamp post.
而其他主要婚礼参与者也难逃尴尬。伴娘可能会在嘲笑的人群面前被猥亵，而新郎则被迫穿上女装，然后被绑在灯柱上。
But’s not only about the headline-grabbing vulgarities.
但这不仅仅是引人注目的粗俗内容。
Prior to the Experimental Zones, Jintai District of Baoji City in Shaanxi Province became a pilot zone for the scheme. In a total of 124 villages and communities, the Party Committee and the district government vigorously went about changing marriage and other family customs. Promoting a strong atmosphere of deriving glory from diligence and thrift, the pilot sought to expunge extravagance and shame.
在试点之前，陕西省宝鸡市金台区成为该计划的试点区。党委、区政府在124个村、社区大力开展婚姻等家庭习俗改造。弘扬勤俭节约的浓厚氛围，革除奢靡之风。
Zhang Hongsheng is a villager in Dahuashu Village in Panlong Town of Jintai District. When his son was due to marry, he was prepared for a big operation. Finally, he was able to reduce the number of banquets under guidance from the village council. “The whole district now requires a simple marriage, with no more than 30 tables and no more than ¥300 spent per table”, he said.
张洪生是金台区盘龙镇大桦树村村民。当他的儿子即将结婚时，他准备进行一次大手术。最后，他在村委会的指导下，减少了宴席的次数。 “现在全区都要求简单结婚，不超过30桌，每桌消费不超过300元”，他说。
In the process, Zhang had saved more than ¥30,000. With the monies retained, he helped his son and daughter-in-law start a business.
在此过程中，张先生节省了3万多元。他用保留下来的钱帮助儿子和儿媳创业。
But of course the true test is still to come. Will the Experimental Zones be able to help more people like Zhang to enjoy cost-cutting marriage ceremonies with less vulgarity but more frugality?
但当然，真正的考验还在后面。实验区能否帮助更多像张先生一样的人，享受少一点庸俗、多一点节俭的省钱婚礼？
