In Chinese traditional culture, getting married for parenthood
is the necessary for matured people, but today, it's only one
choice for many Chinese young men and women.
Wu Yulan, a resident in southwestern Chengdu City, is often
worried about her 27-year-old daughter's marriage. Her daughter Lin
Fang, having been in love with her boyfriend for over three years,
refuses to get married.
"Registered marriage means nothing, unless the couple wants a
child. If the two have true love, they don't need a marriage
certificate to maintain their relations, so don't be anxious about
me," Lin told her mother.
In a transitional Chinese society, the new generation of youth
have their views on marriage and ways of life, which bear
characteristics of openness, freedom and tolerance, and the public
is accepting these ideas, said Professor Hu Guangwei with the
Sichuan Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.
Both true love and money are essential for marriage, Lin Fang
and many of her friends and colleagues thought this way. "We have
to face the reality, since without houses or cars, the couple will
soon or later fall into quarrels even if they have true love
between them," Lin said.
So many young people would rather choose to be single and wait
for a "perfect marriage" than get married hastily, which has led to
the sharp increase in number of urban single ladies in their
thirties with high academic degrees and well-paid jobs.
The delayed marriage or even celibacy has become quite common in
today's China, said Hu.
With the growing number of divorce cases in Chinese society, the
pre-marriage property notarization has been chosen by many young
couples, while most elderly Chinese still find it difficult to
accept.
The society should respect those personal choices, as long as
they do not bring harm to the public, said Professor Wang Jianjun
with the Sichuan University.
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2004)