Sáu lễ

Ông bà xưa thường tuân theo sáu lễ trong hôn nhân.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The Six Rites: A traditional term referring to the six essential ceremonies or steps in a formal, classical Vietnamese wedding procedure, based on ancient Confucian marital customs.
   • The Six Wedding Etiquettes: Denotes the structured sequence of rituals that constituted a proper marriage arrangement in pre-modern Vietnam.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hôn lễ truyền thống đầy đủ phải có sáu lễ. (A complete traditional wedding must have the six rites.)
  • Sáu lễ thể hiện sự trang trọng của hôn nhân xưa. (The six wedding etiquettes demonstrate the solemnity of marriages in the past.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "sáu lễ" is primarily used in historical, cultural, or literary contexts when discussing traditional customs. It is not used in the context of modern wedding planning.
• The six rites are specifically:
  • Nạp thái (Presenting the betrothal gifts)
  • Vấn danh (Asking for the bride's name and birth details)
  • Nạp cát (Presenting the auspicious divination results)
  • Nạp trưng (Presenting the wedding gifts)
  • Thỉnh kỳ (Requesting the wedding date)
  • Thân nghinh (The groom personally fetching the bride)

Variants and Related Words

• Lục lễ (n): A Sino-Vietnamese synonym for "sáu lễ", meaning "the six rites".
• Hôn lễ (n): Wedding ceremony; matrimonial rites.
• Tục lễ (n): Customary rite; ritual practice.

Synonyms

• The six wedding ceremonies
• The six matrimonial rites
• The six formal betrothal steps

Related Cultural Notes

• The use of wild geese: In four of the six rites (Nạp thái, Vấn danh, Nạp cát, and Thỉnh kỳ), a wild goose was traditionally used as a symbolic gift. The goose represented fidelity, as it was believed to mate for life.
• A mark of formality: The complete observance of "sáu lễ" was a sign of a serious, formal union between two families, emphasizing ritual propriety over individual choice.