The dowry is one of the ancient Chinese wedding customs, also known as the betrothal gift, engagement gift, or engagement of wealth. At the initial stage of the marriage agreement, the groom's family will present the bride with a celebratory item in the name of the engaged man, to show the groom's sincerity.
The man giving the bride price to the woman is to express his feelings to her and also to show his determination to marry her. Giving a dowry to the bride is also a way of thanking her parents for raising her to adulthood. Therefore, the original meaning of the dowry is gratitude and determination.
The dowry is usually given to the woman by the man when he offers her a betrothal gift. If both parties hold a wedding banquet, the dowry will be given to the woman at the engagement banquet. If there is no wedding banquet booked, it will be given to the woman after the marriage is confirmed.
There is no clear regulation on how much dowry is appropriate, but it should be reasonably formulated based on local customs and the man's economic conditions. The dowry is both a gesture of goodwill and gratitude, so the bride's family should clarify the meaning of the dowry and not use it as a way to make money. The happiness of both parties after marriage is the most important thing.