The Frost's Descent and the Reversed Woman: An Inquiry into the Ritual, Heavenly Way, and Moderation of Pre-Qin Marriage Regulations
This article deeply interprets the twelve characters, 'The Frost's Descent and the Reversed Woman, Ice Thaws and Killing Ceases, One Coitus in Ten Days,' tracing their origins in Pre-Qin classics like the *Rites of Zhou* and the *Book of Rites*. It analyzes the underlying principles concerning temporal restrictions on marriage, Yin-Yang philosophy, agricultural governance considerations, and sexual moderation, aiming to reconstruct the core of Pre-Qin ritualistic thought.
Chapter 14: Integration of the System
Section 1: The Internal Logic Unifying the Three Phrases
The three phrases form a cohesive system: "Frost descends" sets the lower time limit for formal marriage; "Ice thaws" sets the upper time limit for formal marriage; and "Once in ten days, an embrace" sets the frequency standard during this window. This creates a 4-5 month period of regulated conjugal activity.
Section 2: Execution and Supervision
The Meishi (Mediator of the Matchmaker) in the Rites of Zhou was responsible for managing population data and enforcing marriage compliance, including penalties for non-compliance unless excused.
Section 3: Possible Exceptions
Exceptions existed for mourning periods or urgent political needs (like Duke Zhuang’s summer marriage), though such deviations were often noted critically, confirming the rule's normative status.