Stealing a Wife
In some Tujia villages in Houping, Maogang, and other areas of Zhangjiajie, there is a unique custom: taking a wife usually happens at night, and outsiders mock them for "stealing wives." Legend says long ago, these Tujia also married during the day. But in the late Tang dynasty, one day a wedding procession and a funeral procession met on the official road—one side draped in...
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
Stealing a Wife
In some Tujia villages in Houping, Maogang, and other places in Zhangjiajie, there is a unique local custom: taking a wife is usually done at night. Outsiders mock them for "stealing wives."
It is said that long ago, these Tujia people also took wives during the day. It was only in the late Tang Dynasty that one day a family taking a bride and a family holding a funeral met on the official road. One side was draped in red and colored ribbons, playing music and joyful; the other side was in mourning clothes, playing funeral music and weeping. Neither was willing to yield the road to the other. The wedding party feared missing the hour for bowing to heaven and earth and ruining their luck; the funeral party feared missing the time for burial and ruining the feng shui. So they pushed and shoved and came to blows, and neither would give way. In the end, both sides dragged each other to the Tusi office.
After hearing the lawsuit from both sides, the Tusi king thought for a moment and immediately ruled: "The funeral party is in heavy mourning, carrying the coffin on their shoulders, weeping—this is an act of loyalty and filial piety, and they should go first." Hearing this, the funeral party quickly kowtowed in thanks and went ahead. The Tusi king then ruled: "The wedding party is joyful and happy; they should yield to the loyal and filial, so they should go later!" But the wedding party, already at odds with the funeral party and seeing the funeral party go first, was so angry they were dazed and only half-heard the later ruling. When the litigant returned to the wedding crowd, people gathered around to ask, and he said irritably: "Confounded official—taking a bride still has to go at night." Thus a misheard sentence was passed down as a local custom. Even now, those places still take wives at night.