Maria the Korean Bride

Ghost Marriage

The societal pressure on women to marry persists even after death. This is demonstrated in the institution of ghost marriages, an ancient—and now outlawed—tradition originating in mainland China. Dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC–9 AD), ghost marriages were only for the wealthy to participate in. For some, this ritual was arranged during their lifetime, predestined to marry after death. For others, living family members would organize a ghost marriage for their loved ones to prevent the deceased from experiencing loneliness during the Afterlife.

I first learned about ghost marriages hearing stories of non-wealthy families attempting to ensure their love lifes after death, giving up their livelihoods, spending their life savings for ceremonies, all out of respect for the deceased. Confounded, but also intrigued, I decided to learn more about this practice by participating in a Tawainese ghost wedding. While I investigated, I realized that many people avoided discussing this practice, approaching it with apprehension. I was unsure as to why, until I was met with governmental interference, warnings by well-meaning Chinese citizens, and current abiding convictions and customs.

There were many questions I asked myself going through this process: Why do we feel obligated to participate in practices like these? What is the importance of the legacy constructed in marriage when you’ve already passed on to another life? How do we make peace with the deceased? And as the viewers watch my search for these answers, I hope that they can be open-minded, despite some skepticism, questioning their relationships to their own histories and how they persist after death.