婚姻失时:明代早婚与晚婚现象探析

Marriage at the Improper Age:An Analysis of Early Marriage and Late Marriage in Ming Dynasty

早婚与晚婚是明代婚姻失时的两个主要体现。早婚中早定婚、早成婚现象比较突出,娃娃亲、指腹婚在定婚中占有很大的比例,早于法定婚龄嫁娶的行为在成婚中也有一定的数量,父辈交好、统治者提倡、朝廷选秀风气是早婚产生的三个主要原因,早婚具有不稳定性,因而遭到有识之士的批评与反对,反对者提出自己的婚龄主张,并对早婚进行预防与惩戒,对早婚的纠治具有一定的积极意义。晚婚中晚定婚、晚成婚现象比较明显,它使一部分人的婚龄大于正常化、大众化水平,男女晚婚的原因有所差别,男子多因居丧延迟,女子多因择偶标准过高、抚育弟妹、等候聘夫而耽搁,晚婚对正常的婚姻秩序造成一定的冲击,因而受到一部分人的否定与批评,反对者主张婚姻以时,提出定婚、成婚要及时,政府鼓励适时婚配,并为困难者提供资助,对晚婚的纠治也产生积极作用。历史的局限性导致了早婚与晚婚的不可避免,决定了婚姻失时的必然。

Early marriage and late marriage are two main manifestations of marriage at the improper age.The phenomenon of early betrothal and early wedding in early marriage is more prominent,doll-to-child and finger-to-finger betrothal take up a large proportion,the act of manying before the legal age of marriage occupies a certain share in wedding.The elder 5s good deeds,the rulers5 advocacy,and the imperial courfs selection are the three main reasons for early marriage.Early marriage is unstable,therefore,was criticized and opposed by people of insight.These people put forward their views on the age of marriage,prevent and discipline early marriage,which has certain positive significance for the treatment of early marriage.The phenomenon of late betrothal and late wedding in late marriage is quite obvious.It makes the marriage age of some people deviate from the level of normalization and popularization.The causes of late marriage is different between men and women,as men are mostly delayed due to mourning,women are often delayed by high standards of mate choice,raising younger siblings,and waiting for unmarried husbands.Late marriage has a certain impact on the normal marriage order,therefore,was negated and criticized by some people.These people advocate that marriage is in keeping with the right times,suggesting that betrothal and wedding should be timely.The government encourages timely marriage,and provides financial assistance to the needy,which has certain positive influence for the treatment of late marriage.Historical limitations lead to inevitability of early marriage and late marriage,and determines the necessity of marriage at the improper age.