The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways

Chinese Wedding Readings

Below are sample Chinese readings with translations.

  • Fairy of the Magpie Bridge

    Qin Guan of in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

    Yonder clouds weaving together
    Amidst the flaming stars
    Drifting along the heavenlies
    Bringing two Lovers from afar

    The Lovers’ rendezvous tonight
    Adorned the autumn sky
    No joy on earth e’en a hundred thousand times
    May compare to the Lovers’ meeting eyes

    Precious and tender, the Lovers’ love
    ‘twas like a beautiful beautiful dream
    Yet gazing mournfully at the magpie bridge
    That will set them apart again

    But Eternal Lovers if they were so
    Will time apart they not endure?

    Translation

    鹊桥仙 宋·秦观
    织云弄巧
    飞星传恨
    银汉迢迢暗度
    金风玉露一相逢
    便胜却人间无数
    柔情似水
    佳期如梦
    忍顾鹊桥归路
    两情若是久长时

  • The Art of Marriage

    By Wilfred Arlan Peterson

    “In love and marriage, the little things are the big things.
    It is never being too old to hold hands.
    It is remembering to say “I love you.” at least once a day.
    It is never going to sleep angry.
    It is at no time taking the other for granted.
    It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
    It is standing together facing the world.
    It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the entire family.
    It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice but in the spirit of joy.
    It is speaking words of appreciation
    and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
    It is not looking for perfection in each other but cultivating patience, understanding . . . a sense of humor . . .
    and the capacity to forgive and forget.
    It is providing each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
    It is finding room for things of the Spirit.
    It is establishing a relationship in which the independent is equal, dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
    It is not only marrying the right partner,
    it is being the right partner.”

    Translation

    “婚姻的艺术”
    Wilfred Arlan Peterson

    “在爱情和婚姻中,小事是大事。
    牵手永远不会太老。
    每天至少一次记得要说“我爱你”。
    永远不要生气的睡着
    不要把另一半,视为理所当然。
    有相互的价值观和共同目标。
    一起面对世界。
    全家形成一个爱的圆圈。
    为彼此做事,不是以责任或牺牲的态度,而是以喜乐的精神。
    以深思熟虑的方式说出欣赏和表达感激之情。
    不是在寻求彼此的完美,而是培养耐心,理解。 。 。幽默感 。 。 。和原谅和忘记的能力。
    为彼此提供了一个可以生长的氛围。
    为圣灵的事物寻找空间。
    建立一种独立平等的关系,依赖是相互的,义务是互惠的。
    不仅与合适的伙伴结合,而是成为合适的合作伙伴。