After the collapse of Manchu rule in 1912, the newly established Chinese republic was trying to adapt itself to modern civilisation. For a long time, China was in political chaos, while culturally and intellectually it was enjoying unprecedented freedom and prosperity.
Marriage Certificate, Marriage Protocol 结婚证、结婚仪式程序
Paper | 24 Nov 1940 (Republic of China) | Donated by Ms Gu Huina | Minhang Museum Collection. 纸｜民国 – 公元1940年11月24日｜顾慧娜捐赠｜闵行博物馆藏
Marriage certificates issued by the Republic of China (ROC) government in the 1940s were official documents typically issued by local or county Yamen (government offices) or, for overseas Chinese, by ROC consulates. The specific appearance could vary, but they generally followed a certificate style, often containing specific details and official seals.
The documents typically included the names and ages of the bride and groom, as well as the names of the officiant and the matchmaker. I love the fact that matchmakers were included in the certificates – you know who to blame if the marriage breaks down!
These certificates are important historical sources, reflecting the social and legal transitions of marriage laws from traditional practices to modern legal frameworks. There’s even a SOP document (above) that helps confused couples on how to plan a perfect Western style wedding.
In the 1920s, wedding photos became quite common among the general population in Shanghai and other big cities. The 1930s was the golden age for everything West in China, including Western-style weddings and Western-style wedding photos. By the 1940s, wedding photos were regarded as an integral part of marriage.
Wedding Anniversary Trophy or Loving Cup 结婚纪念杯
Silverware | Republic of China (1912-1949) | Minhang Museum Collection. 银器｜民国（公元1912～1949年）｜闵行博物馆藏
A loving cup is a large, two-handled ornamental vessel, often silver, used for ceremonial shared drinking at events like weddings and banquets. The loving cup itself represents the cup of life; filled with the future possibilities of the bride and groom. “同甘共苦” – The wine within the cup contains sweet properties that represent happiness, joy, peace and hope; Bitter properties symbolising sorrow, grief and despair are also present. The combination of the two signifies ‘love’s journey’ and the experiences that are a part of this. All those who share from the cup will share the happiness and burdens the wine symbolises together. With newfound interests in all things Western, these wedding anniversary trophies were popular among the Westernised Shanghainese.1
Pewter and Glass Candle Lantern Set from “Zhanglian Ji” 章莲记锡玻套
Pewter | Republic of China (1912-1949) | Collection of Minhang Museum. 锡｜民国（公元1912～1949年）｜闵行博物馆藏
洞房花烛夜3, or the wedding night, is an important occasion in life and is usually marked with elaborate traditions like these red high decorated candles known as Huazhu 花烛 (above right). As it is considered to be inauspicious to let these candles go out during the wedding night, these pewter candle lanterns became part of the ritual of protecting the flame. These are a classic square, lantern-style design with glass panes, a popular design during the period. The bases are ornate, with detailed relief carvings and four feet shaped like animal paws, likely from a popular store called Zhanglian Ji during the period.
Red is an auspicious colour for Chinese and for wedding nights, the room of the newly weds is usually decked out completely in red. These red bedsheets with peonies are used to convey good wishes to the couple and hope for them to have lots of children (signified by the blooming flowers, 开枝散叶4).
“Sawn” Brand Table Clock 三五牌台钟
Wood, Mechanical | Republic of China (1912~1949) | Donated by Chen Genfu | Collection of Minhang Museum. 木、机械｜民国（公元1912~1949年）｜陈根福捐赠｜闵行博物馆藏
During the 1960s, Shanghainese newly weds will prepare these four things for their lives together. Known as “三转一响” (“Three Turns and One Sound”), they refer to the bicycle, sewing machine, a watch or clock and a radio. And one of the most popular brand was the “555” table clock. “Sanwu” brand (“Sanwu” is literally “three five”) was trademarked in 1939 in Shanghai as an export clock manufacturer. The quality of this Made in Shanghai clock was comparable to the German and Japanese imports popular at that time.5 Most of the local made clocks have a 7 days winding cycle, but this was the first Chinese clock that can store a 15 days spring load, hence, “555” (5+5+5=15). 6
As societies develop, many customs and traditions were forgotten and left to these museums to keep and retain some of these collective memories. I was actually quite disappointed that these information that I posted here weren’t mentioned at the museum. Otherwise it would have been a very interesting visit.
All photos taken at Minhang Museum Apr 2025, unless otherwise indicated.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
Footnotes :
- What is a loving cup? https://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/History-of-the-Loving-Cup-d330.htm, accessed 2 January 2026 ↩︎
- Ningbo Geosun Technology Co.,Ltd Museum Collection https://www.chinese-lamp.com/products/index?selectid=13898&lang=en ↩︎
- “洞房花烛夜”指新婚之夜，是中华传统文化中人生四大喜事之一（久旱逢甘雨、他乡遇故知、洞房花烛夜、金榜题名时），象征着人生圆满的喜悦和对美满家庭的期盼，也指代新婚的洞房里点燃的红蜡烛，寓意喜庆和吉祥，源自古老的婚姻习俗，在古典文学及现代作品中常见. ↩︎
- “开枝散叶” (kāi zhī sàn yè) literally means “to spread branches and scatter leaves,” but figuratively, it means to have many descendants, bear children, produce offspring, or continue the family line, implying flourishing growth, much like a tree’s branches spreading out. It’s used to express the wish or reality of a family growing and prospering with many generations. ↩︎
- 中国钟厂的“三五”牌时钟，曾创造了中国钟表行业的传奇，侬还记得伐？
2020-04-26 10:41, 来源：澎湃新闻·澎湃号·湃客.
从上世纪六七十年代起，上海年轻人结婚很时兴“三转一响”。所谓“三转”，指的是车轮会转的自行车，飞轮会转的缝纫机，以及指针会转的手表，而一响则是指会发声的收音机，这些都是结婚必备的紧俏商品。而这之外，还有“一转”也很受欢迎——那就是“三五”牌台钟，它的生产厂家就是中国钟厂。
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_7134076, accessed 2 Jan 2026 ↩︎ - 中国钟厂的“三五”牌时钟，曾创造了中国钟表行业的传奇，侬还记得伐？
2020-04-26 10:41, 来源：澎湃新闻·澎湃号·湃客.
发展沿革
中国钟厂，前身是中国钟表制造厂股份有限公司。
二十世纪三四十年代，当时市场上最为畅销的是进口的日本、德国时钟，国产时钟因制作粗糙、质量较差而少人问津。为了振兴国货抵制洋货，从天津来沪投资的大纶绸布庄经理毛式唐等人便萌生了打造中国人自己的名牌时钟的想法。
1939年
毛式唐借助维大洋行经理王宽诚、中国国货公司经理李康年，集资120万元创办中国钟表制造厂股份有限公司，李康年任董事长，毛式唐任经理，聘阮顺发为工程师。成为当年上海唯一一家生产制造机械摆钟(挂钟、台钟和落地钟，注册“三五”商标)的民族企业。
当时的国产时钟，大多只能连续走上7天。工程师阮顺发与工厂技术人员经过反复试验、不断改进，制造出鸟笼式齿轮和光洁度高的轴芯，延长走时时间和使用寿命。这样，时钟便能连续走上15天。为了突出这一性能特点，最终决定采用三个“5”作为产品商标，定名为“三五”牌15天时钟。https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_7134076, accessed 2 Jan 2026 ↩︎
0 comments on “Treasures – Marriage Certificate (ROC)”