Adviser proposes regulations to manage rural dowries

A policy adviser from Jiangxi has suggested implementing a registration system that certifies rural matchmakers to combat the issue of sky-high dowry prices in rural areas.

Lan Wen, a member of the Jiangxi Provincial Political Consultative Conference, said that despite the growing popularity of online dating apps, many unmarried young people in rural China still rely on traditional matchmakers to find partners due to factors such as economic conditions, education levels, marital views, and traditional customs.

"In a way, rural matchmakers have helped many unmarried individuals to fulfill their marriage dreams," said Lan, who is also the vice-chairwoman of the Ganzhou Municipal Political Consultative Conference.

Rural matchmakers earn commissions based on a percentage of the dowry or a fixed amount. Charging matchmaking fees starting from 3 percent to 5 percent of the dowry is common, with some going as high as 15 percent, said Lan in a proposal during the provincial two sessions held this week. The proposal mentioned that the "fixed amount" can range from a minimum of 10,000 yuan to as much as 80,000-90,000 yuan.

According to Lan, many professional matchmakers intentionally inflate dowry expectations to maximize profits. They compare families with high dowries and encourage the bride's family to demand even more. Lan warned that this practice could become a significant driver behind excessive dowry prices.

Dowries are common in China, where the groom gives money or other gifts, such as gold or jewelry, to his future wife's family as a requirement for marriage.

To address this, Lan proposed the establishment of matchmaker associations at the county and township levels, where rural professional matchmakers can register and undergo training.

She said these associations would conduct annual supervision and assessments, adding that they could also introduce industry standards to curb inflated dowries, alleviate the financial burden on the public, and promote rural civilization.

Lan also suggested that matchmaking services should be innovated by organizing regular matchmaking events during special occasions like traditional holidays, to provide more opportunities for unmarried individuals.

In addition, she emphasized that strict supervision and law enforcement are essential to combat improper profiteering in the matchmaking industry.

In the past year, exorbitant dowry costs have sparked a furious backlash on social media.