Taking a cup of Jiu (alcholic beverage) and crossing arms, lovers sip the juice of romance and promise in the presence of guests their lifelong love—this is perhaps the happiest moment in the world for many Chinese.
This ceremony of newlyweds linking arms and drinking to their future happiness (Jiaobaiju) is common during Chinese weddings today.
In ancient times, a similar ceremony called Hejin was also widely practiced. He means join together; while jin means gourd ladle, which is made by cutting a gourd in half. As the bride and groom hold a gourd ladle to drink wine, the hejin ceremony symbolizes a harmonious matrimonial life.
Gourd ladles are the oldest form of hejin cups. Later, double cups were made allowing newlyweds to hold two handles and drink together.
Not many of these cups were made and very few of them have survived in a good condition.
Hejin Cup Lu Zigang
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Gray jade
7.5 cm tall and 13 cm wide
At the Palace Museum established in the Forbidden City, there is a hejin cup made of gray jade. It was designed for the weddings of emperors.
The exquisite cup has relief and openwork carving. With the two cups joined together, it is 7.5 cm tall and 13 cm wide, and stands on six feet shaped like animal heads.
On one side, between the two cups, is a handle shaped like the tail of a phoenix, on the opposite side are two dragons whose tails wind around the cups to join the phoenix. Two decorative ropes are carved on the upper and lower parts of the cups, as if binding the cups tightly together. Where the ropes knot are carved two words, wan shou, or longevity.
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