[156] There is nothing in China like an aristocracy of birth. Any man may raise himself from the lowest level to the highest; and as long as he and his family keep themselves there, they may be considered aristocratic. Wealth has nothing to do with the question; official rank and literary tastes, separate or combined, these constitute a man’s title to the esteem of his fellows. Trade is looked upon as ignoble and debasing; and friendly intercourse between merchants and officials, the two great social divisions, is so rare as to be almost unknown.
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[157] The medium, without whose good offices no marriage can be arranged. Generally, but not always, a woman.
This system of go-betweens is not confined to matrimonial engagements. No servant ever offers himself for a place; he invariably employs some one to introduce him. So also in mercantile transactions the broker almost invariably appears upon the scene.
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[158] See No. II., [note 41].
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[159] The so-called “golden lilies” always come in for a large share of criticism. See No. XII., [note 86]. This term originated with an emperor who reigned in the fifth century, when, in ecstasies at the graceful dancing of a concubine upon a stage ornamented with lilies, he cried out, “Every footstep makes a lily grow.”
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[160] A common custom; e.g. in the case of a little child lying dangerously ill, its mother will go outside the door into the garden or field, and call out its name several times, in the hope of bringing back the wandering spirit.
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[161] This process must be regularly gone through night and morning, otherwise the bandages become loose, and the gait of the walker unsteady.
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[162] I have explained before that any great disparity of means is considered an obstacle to a matrimonial alliance between two families.
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[163] This is a not unusual arrangement in cases where there are other sons in the bridegroom’s family, but none in that of the bride’s, especially if the advantage of wealth is on the side of the latter.
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[164] Such is the Chinese rule, adopted simply with a view to the preservation of harmony.
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