Combing of the Bride’s Hair - 上头 Shang Tou

Traditionally, for some Chinese dialect group, at the dawn of the wedding day or the night before the wedding, the bride will be bathed in water added with pamelo, lime leaves etc to cleanse the body. She will put on new clothes. Then she will sit before a set of long-feng (dragon and phoenix) candles to have her hair combed. A woman that has enjoyed reasonable good fortune in life; will help comb her hair. The act of combing the bride's hair is to symbolize a long and lasting marriage. As she comb the hair she will usually say the following:-

一   梳,  梳   到   尾
yì shū shū dào wěi
1st combing represents: from start of marriage until the end

二  梳,  梳  到  白  髮  齊  眉
èr shū shū dào bái fà qí méi
2nd combing represents: harmonious relationship until old age

三  梳,   梳   到   兒   孫   滿   地
sān shū shū dào ér sūn mǎn dì
3rd combing represents: will have many sons and grandsons everywhere

四   梳,   梳  到  四  條  銀  筍  盡  標  齊
sì shū shū dào sì tiáo yín sǔn jìn biāo qí
4th combing represents: monetary wealth and for a long and lasting marriage.

Traditionally, the bride and groom will be wearing red. And on the wedding day, the bride will also be covered with a red silk veil or a curtain of beads hung from the bridal crown.

In the very old days, the groom also have a similar hair combing procedure, but this is no longer practiced anymore.


In our modern day practice, many brides follow the western tradition of wearing white (symbolizing purity) usually for photo taking and almost the entire day. However, for some, who may hold an evening wedding, the bride may first wear her white wedding dress and mid-way during the dinner, change to a “lovely” red dress. This really depends on the individual family.

Related : Traditional Chinese Wedding Procedures
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