Rhiannon Hendricks
Cousin marriage has been a part of Chinese culture for centuries, with varying degrees of acceptance depending on the type of cousin relationship and the historical period. In ancient China, marriage between cousins was sometimes permissible, with certain types of cousin marriages even being preferred. However, there were also periods when all cousin marriage was legally prohibited, such as during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), cousin marriage became common, especially in rural regions. Eventually, in 1980, the People's Republic of China enacted a legal ban on first-cousin marriage, which remains in effect today. While cousin marriage is no longer legally accepted in China, it has left a mark on Chinese culture and continues to be a topic of discussion and interest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cousin marriage in China | Banned by the People's Republic of China (PRC) Marriage Law since 1980/1981 |
| Reasons for the ban | Potential health concerns, one-child policy |
| History of cousin marriage in China | Allowed during most of China's dynastic era, common during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) |
| Exceptions | Marrying the child of one's paternal aunt, maternal uncle, or aunt was generally accepted |
| Regional variations | Cousin marriage still common in some rural areas |
| Types of cousin marriage | Marrying a mother's sister's daughter (MSD) is tolerated, but a father's brother's daughter (FBD) is strongly disfavored |
| Singaporean Chinese | Prevalence of consanguineal marriages is 0.3% |
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What You'll Learn
Cousin marriage is banned in China
In China, cousin marriage has been banned since 1981. However, this has not been the case for very long. The ban officially appeared in the People's Republic of China (PRC) Marriage Law when it was revised in 1980 and came into effect on 1 January 1981. The PRC Marriage Law states that "no marriage may be contracted under any of the following circumstances: (1) if the man and the woman are lineal relatives by blood, or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship". This means that first cousins, as third-degree relatives, are prohibited from marrying each other in China.
Historically, cousin marriage was common in China, particularly during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), especially in rural regions. Marrying the child of one's aunt or maternal uncle was not seen as a problem and was sometimes even preferable as it strengthened the ties between the two families. Anthropologist Francis L. K. Hsu described a mother's brother's daughter (MBD) as the most preferred type of Chinese cousin marriage. However, marriage between patrilateral parallel cousins, the children of two male siblings, was strictly prohibited as they shared the same family name and resembled sibling marriage.
The ban on cousin marriage in China was enacted due to potential health concerns. Children of first-cousin marriages have a 4-6% risk of autosomal recessive genetic disorders compared to the 3% risk for children of unrelated parents. The one-child policy, introduced before the 1980 PRC Marriage Law, may have also played a role. The legislation stated that due to the policy, there would be "fewer children" and therefore more attention should be paid to "the quality of the population".
It is important to note that the ban on cousin marriage in China does not apply to second cousins or first cousins once removed. Additionally, the two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau, place no restrictions on marriage between cousins.
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Marrying a mother's sister's daughter is tolerated
Marrying one's cousin has been a common practice in various cultures throughout history, and China is no exception. While cousin marriage has been banned in modern China since 1980, it was a prevalent practice during the Qing dynasty era (1644-1912), especially in rural regions.
In the context of a man's preferences for marriage, Chinese culture has traditionally favored specific relationships over others. Marrying a mother's sister's daughter (MSD), for instance, has been tolerated, while marrying a father's brother's daughter (FBD) has been strongly discouraged. The latter form of cousin marriage is seen as nearly incestuous and prohibited because the potential spouses share the same surname, resembling a sibling marriage.
In Chinese culture, patrilineal ties, or relationships traced through the male line, are of utmost importance in defining the closeness of a relation. In the case of an MSD marriage, no such patrilineal ties exist, so it may not even be considered a cousin marriage. This cultural preference for patrilineal descent also explains why marriage to a mother's brother's daughter (MBD) is often the most common and preferred type of Chinese cousin marriage. Marrying an MBD allows a man to build a stronger alliance with his mother's family, with whom he may have greater emotional warmth.
However, it is important to note that regional variations exist within China. In some rural areas where cousin marriage is still common, MBD marriage is not necessarily preferred but rather viewed as acceptable, similar to MSD marriage.
The evolution of marriage practices in China has been influenced by various factors, including Confucian thinking, economic necessities, and government policies. While cousin marriage was once common, it is now legally prohibited in China due to potential health concerns and the desire to promote "the quality of the population."
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Marrying a father's brother's daughter is strongly disfavoured
Marrying one's father's brother's daughter is strongly disfavoured in Chinese culture. This type of cousin marriage is seen as nearly incestuous and is prohibited, as the man and woman in such a marriage share the same surname, resembling a sibling marriage. Patrilineal ties are most important in determining the closeness of a relation in Chinese culture.
Historically, cousin marriage was allowed during most of China's dynastic era, with some exceptions. Marriages between patrilateral parallel cousins, the children of two male siblings, were strictly prohibited. These marriages were seen as similar to sibling marriages because the cousins shared the same family name. However, marrying the child of one's paternal aunt, maternal uncle, or aunt was generally accepted. For example, the novel Hong Lou Meng (Dream of the Red Chamber), written during the Qing Dynasty, centres on a male heir of a wealthy noble family who marries the daughter of his maternal aunt.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), law codes indicate that cousin marriage was legally prohibited, but enforcement proved difficult. By the subsequent Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), first cousin marriage was common, especially in rural regions. By the early to mid-20th century, anthropologists described cross-cousin marriage in China as "permissible but generally obsolete."
In 1980, the People's Republic of China (PRC) Marriage Law was revised to include a ban on first-cousin marriages. This ban was influenced by the one-child policy, which aimed to improve "the quality of the population" by preventing marriages between close relatives. The legal ban on first-cousin marriage was officially enacted in 1981 due to potential health concerns associated with consanguineous marriages.
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Cousin marriage was common during the Qing dynasty
During the Qing dynasty, marriage between first cousins was generally allowed, although there were exceptions. Marriages between patrilateral parallel cousins, or the children of two male siblings, were strictly prohibited as they were considered nearly incestuous. However, marrying the child of one's paternal aunt, maternal uncle, or aunt was generally accepted. Anthropologist Francis L. K. Hsu described a mother's brother's daughter (MBD) as the most preferred type of Chinese cousin marriage.
In some periods of Chinese history, all cousin marriage was legally prohibited, as evidenced by law codes from the preceding Ming dynasty (1368-1644). However, enforcement of these laws was difficult, and by the Qing dynasty, the former laws had been restored. By the early to mid-20th century, anthropologists described cross-cousin marriage in China as "permitted but not encouraged".
In 1981, a legal ban on first-cousin marriage was enacted by the government of the People's Republic of China due to potential health concerns. The ban was included in the 1980 PRC Marriage Law, which was revised in 2001, and it remains in effect today. The one-child policy, introduced before the passage of the 1980 PRC Marriage Law, may have also played a role in the ban on cousin marriages, as the government wanted to focus on "the quality of the population".
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Cousin marriage is viewed as okay in Singapore
In Singapore, cousin marriage is generally not the norm, but it is not entirely uncommon or unheard of, either. While it may not be as widely accepted today, some millennials seem to be more open to the idea. In the past, older relatives and historical records indicate that cousin marriage was a thing, as long as the couple did not share the same surname.
In Chinese culture, cousin marriage has been viewed differently depending on the specific type of cousin relationship. Marrying a mother's brother's daughter (MBD) has been described as the most preferred type of Chinese cousin marriage, while marrying a father's brother's daughter (FBD) is strongly disfavoured, even considered nearly incestuous. This is because, in Chinese culture, patrilineal ties are most important in determining the closeness of a relation. Marrying one's mother's sister's daughter (MSD) is generally tolerated, and in some cases, may not even be viewed as a cousin marriage due to the absence of patrilineal ties.
Anthropological research has found regional variations in these patterns. In some rural areas where cousin marriage is still common, MBD marriage is acceptable but not necessarily preferred, similar to MSD marriage. During the Qing dynasty era (1644–1912), first cousin marriage was common and particularly prevalent in rural regions. By the early to mid-20th century, anthropologists described cross-cousin marriage in China as "permitted but not encouraged".
In Singapore, the prevalence of consanguineal marriages among Singaporean Chinese is quite low, at 0.3% as of 2004. However, it is worth noting that there was an upward jump in cross-dialect marriages among Singaporean Chinese after independence. While cousin marriage is legally prohibited in China, it is unclear whether this prohibition extends to the Chinese community in Singapore, which may have its own cultural norms and legal framework regarding cousin marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
No, cousin marriage is banned by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Marriage Law. The ban was officially introduced in 1980 and revised in 1981 and 2001.
No, cousin marriage was generally allowed during most of China’s dynastic era. However, there were exceptions. Marriage between patrilateral parallel cousins, the children of two male siblings, was prohibited.
Cousin marriage was banned due to potential health concerns. The one-child policy, which was introduced before the cousin marriage ban, may have also played a role. The policy meant that there would be fewer children, so more attention should be paid to “the quality of the population”.
Yes, there are regional variations. In some rural areas, cousin marriage is still common, although it is not encouraged.
