We've tried to ensure the information displayed here is as accurate as possible. Should there be any inaccuracies, we would be grateful if you could let us know at info@ipohworld.org . All images and content are copyright.
(Please click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.)
The Things That Make Up A Tea Ceremony
The two items in this entry are a few of the things that make up a Traditional Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony. The items in this entry are souvenirs from Madam Ko's own wedding. The tea ceremony is one of the most significant events in a traditional Chinese Wedding. This ceremony includes formal introductions of the bridge and groom and shows respect to their respective families. The earliest written record of the ceremonies emerged during the Tang Dynasty over 1200 years ago where the couple would serve tea to the groom's family after exchanging vows.
The meaning behind the tea ceremony, serving tea when there are guests is a very traditional propriety in China. It is a significant way to show respect. In a wedding, such an act is to show respect and gratitude to parents for the years of love and care. It is also meaningful in many other ways where it's a symbol of purity, stability and fertility. The purity of tea signifies the love is pure and noble; the stability of tea stands for faithful love; the fertility of tea means that the new couple will have many children.
Today, the ceremonies are often conducted by the bride's chaperone or 大妗姐 (dai kam jie) where she would introduce the couple to the elders and would ask them to serve tea to them. The elders would then proceed to either give the couple jewelry or a red packet as ceremonial gifts.
The cup and red packets are original items from our donors tea ceremony.
To see a photograph of another tea ceremony in progress, vlivk here.
To see an embroided top and skirt that Madam Ko wore for her wedding dinner, click here.