When we think of people in their early twenties today, we often picture students pursuing degrees or young professionals starting their careers. However, in ancient China, a girl of this age was likely already a mother—and had been married for years. While this might sound shocking by modern standards, it was a common practice in Chinese history. But why?

The Historical and Legal Framework

To understand this phenomenon, we need to go back to the legal and cultural foundations of ancient China. According to the Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou), the standard marriage ages were set at 30 for men and 20 for women. At first glance, this doesn’t seem too different from today’s norms. However, the scholar Zheng Xuan later clarified that these ages were the latest limits, not the standard practice. In reality, most marriages occurred much earlier.

For instance, during the Han dynasty, the Jiu Zhang Lü (Nine Chapter Law) mandated that unmarried women between the ages of 15 and 30 were subject to a heavy tax penalty. This policy, strictly enforced during the reign of Emperor Hui of Han, underscored the government’s encouragement of early marriage. In the Northern Wei dynasty, Emperor Xiaowen even issued an edict stating that if a girl was not married by 15, her family could be punished—a move that highlights the intense societal pressure to marry young, especially during times of population decline due to war and famine.

The Influence of Traditional Medicine

Medical theories also played a crucial role in justifying early marriages. The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), a foundational text in Chinese medicine, introduced the concept of “women’s cycles of seven and men’s cycles of eight.” According to this theory, a girl’s reproductive maturity began at around 14, making her physically ready for marriage and childbirth. However, not all medical experts agreed on the benefits of early marriage. The Tang dynasty physician Sun Simiao warned against premature sexual activity, noting in his Qian Jin Yao Fang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) that early marriage could lead to health complications in women.

Economic and Political Motivations

Beyond health considerations, economic factors also played a significant role. In an agrarian society, more hands meant more productivity. In rural communities, it was common for girls to marry as soon as they reached puberty, as an additional daughter-in-law meant another pair of hands to help with farming and household chores. The Meng Liang Lu (Dreams of Liang Record) from the Song dynasty explicitly states that peasant families preferred early marriages because “the earlier a daughter-in-law arrives, the sooner she contributes to the household.”

Politics also played a hand in enforcing early marriage customs. Newly established dynasties often promoted early marriage to quickly stabilize and expand the population. For example, after founding the Ming dynasty, Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang) decreed that men aged 16 and women aged 14 should be encouraged to marry. Official records, such as the Ming Hui Dian (Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty), indicate that local officials were even evaluated based on how well they enforced marriage policies.

Social Class and Marriage Age Differences

Interestingly, not everyone in ancient China married at the same age. While commoners typically married young, noble families often arranged marriages even earlier. Royal women were sometimes engaged in infancy and formally married in their early teens. One example is Empress Cao of the Song dynasty, who entered the palace at 13. In contrast, wealthier merchant and scholar families sometimes postponed marriage to allow young men time to complete their studies.

The Shift Away from Early Marriage

Despite its historical prevalence, early marriage customs gradually declined. By the late Qing dynasty and early Republican era, the influence of the New Culture Movement began to challenge traditional norms. With increased advocacy for women’s rights and the rise of modern education, early marriage practices began to fade. Today, China has strict legal marriage age limits—22 for men and 20 for women—far removed from the practices of the past.

Understanding History Without Modern Judgment

While early marriage seems alien to us today, it’s essential to view it within the context of ancient society. Limited life expectancy, high infant mortality rates, and economic survival needs all contributed to this tradition. Rather than judging history through a modern lens, we can use it to better understand how human societies evolve. If nothing else, it reminds us that cultural practices, no matter how ingrained, are never truly fixed—they shift over time, just as our own norms continue to change.