Definition

1. Noun:
   • Age card (of the betrothed): A traditional card or slip of paper used in historical Vietnamese betrothal ceremonies, inscribed with the name and, crucially, the age (specifically the birth year according to the heavenly stems system) of a prospective bride or groom. It was exchanged between the two families to formalize an engagement agreement.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Theo phong tục cũ, hai gia đình trao đổi canh thiếp trước khi đính hôn. (According to the old custom, the two families exchanged age cards before the betrothal.)
  • Canh thiếp của cô dâu được gửi sang nhà trai. (The bride's age card was sent to the groom's family.)

Advanced Usage

• The term canh thiếp is archaic and primarily used in historical or anthropological contexts discussing traditional Vietnamese marriage rituals. The "canh" (庚) refers to the heavenly stem of the birth year, making it a precise astrological age record.

Variants and Related Words

• Lễ hỏi (n): The betrothal ceremony, during which the canh thiếp would traditionally be exchanged.
• Bát tự (n): The eight characters (four pillars) detailing the year, month, day, and hour of birth, representing a more detailed astrological profile than the age on a canh thiếp.

Synonyms

• Betrothal card: A card exchanged during an engagement.
• Age slip: A slip noting the age (archaic).

Related Cultural Context

• Trao đổi canh thiếp: The act of exchanging age cards. This was a key step in the traditional "lục lễ" (six rites) marriage process, serving as a formal contract and a means to check astrological compatibility.
• Xem tuổi: The practice of checking astrological compatibility, for which the canh thiếp provided the essential birth year information.

1. Age card (of the betrothed)