The Dangers of 'Hun nao,' a Traditional Chinese Wedding Custom

Recently, 'Hun nao' (婚闹), a traditional Chinese wedding custom, has become embroiled in significant controversy. This occurred after a woman in her 20s, who was a bridesmaid, suffered a spinal fracture due to pranks orchestrated by the groom's party during a wedding ceremony. A court has since ruled on the case, ordering the perpetrators to pay approximately 50 million Korean Won in damages.

The Full Story

This incident took place on October 4, 2023, in Luoyang City, Henan Province. The victim, identified as Ms. Zhang, was serving as a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding and was in the bridal chamber with the groom's male friends. For reasons unknown, Ms. Zhang hid in a closet. A man from the groom's side, Mr. Wang, forcibly pulled her out and pushed her onto the bed. Mr. Wang then suggested to the other men that they playfully toss Ms. Zhang into the air, which resulted in her falling to the floor and sustaining serious injuries.

The History and Present of 'Hun nao'

'Hun nao' has been a traditional wedding custom in China for thousands of years. It originally began as a way to liven up the wedding atmosphere and ward off evil spirits. However, it has increasingly faced criticism for devolving into harassment and violence. For example, last year, a major controversy erupted when men forcibly tied up a bridesmaid and made her kiss multiple men. Despite the victim's resistance, the onlookers responded with laughter and cheers.

The Court's Ruling and Societal Reaction

Through its ruling on this case, the court emphasized the dangers of 'Hun nao.' The bride and groom were deemed responsible for not intervening despite being aware that 'Hun nao' was taking place, and Mr. Wang's negligence played a significant role. According to the ruling, the bride and groom must pay 90,000 yuan, approximately 40% of the total compensation, with the other participants bearing joint responsibility.

Such incidents demonstrate that 'Hun nao' has transformed from mere wedding pranks into violent criminal acts. Consequently, some local governments in China are strengthening regulations to eradicate 'Hun nao.' For instance, Zouping City in Shandong Province issued a notice in 2021 to eliminate 'vulgar wedding customs,' warning of legal penalties.

Re-examining Traditional Culture

Online voices are growing louder, stating, "We must not justify violence in the name of traditional culture." Many now believe that 'Hun nao' is a harmful practice that should be abolished. Weddings should be special days of celebration. However, when such traditions turn into violence, it is time for us to reconsider their meaning.

A wedding should be the beginning of love and happiness, and we hope that this tradition no longer leads to violence. It is now time to re-examine the tradition of 'Hun nao' and create new customs for happy weddings.