How Chinese custom ‘chong xi,’ or ‘clashing with joy,’ can counteract misfortune

In ancient China, when a man became seriously ill, his family might arrange a wedding for him in an attempt to drive away the disease. The custom is called chong xi, literally translated as “clashing with joy”.

Its rationale is that a happy event could lift one’s spirits and thereby dispel illness or other misfortunes. In practice, if a man who was already engaged became seriously ill, his family might move his wedding forward.

If he did not yet have a fiancée, his family might hastily find him...