The Strength and Resilience of Shim-pua Marriage

Abstract

Shim-pua marriage, also known as tongyangxi, is a traditional Chinese practice where a poorer family’s infant daughter is sold into a wealthier family in exchange for a dowry. The daughter would grow up in the new family, often subjected to difficult chores and maidwork. As the girl matured, she would then be forcefully married to one of the family’s sons. Shim-pua marriage persisted through multiple phases of cultural, social, and political change. But this persistence is indicative of a larger social phenomena. The recurrence of the practice results from the failure of top-down intervention to change underlying social norms. Additionally, Shim-pua marriage is closely connected to modern issues such as human trafficking. This paper provides an in-depth view and analysis of historical revolutions, government action, and people’s response with respect to Shim-pua marriage. It explores the underlying causes of the practice’s persistence, and the socio-economic conditions that fueled it.