Chinese Communist Party explains wedding and funeral rules 중국공산당 결혼식과 장례식에 대한 새로운 지침

A couple dressed in traditional Chinese costumes have wedding portraits made on Valentine's Day 14 February 2013 in Beijing, China. — Image captionElaborate wedding photoshoots are becoming popular among couples in China

China's Communist Party this week set out the thinking behind recent guidance on weddings and funerals for party members.

The theme was frugality when the party's disciplinary watchdog issued a raft of tweaked guidelines for its 88 million members last October.

Even though the wording was vague, Wednesday's statement on how these guidelines should be enforced remained well within the spirit of the party's ongoing austerity drive.

It is all in the name of stamping out corruption, but the perceived intrusion into life's most significant rituals sparked a backlash online.

1. Don't profit from a wedding or a funeral 결혼식이나 장례식에서 이윤을 챙기지 마라.

It is part of traditional Chinese custom for guests at such events to give cash to the bride and groom or to the grieving family.

At weddings, gifts are seen as wishing the couple good luck, whereas at funerals the money is seen as a way of paying condolences and it also helps out with funeral expenses.

Family members mourn late into the night after the funeral for Xue Jinbo, a 42-year-old village leader who died in police custody in Wukan, a fishing village in the southern province of Guangdong on 16 December 2011. — Image captionChinese funerals can be elaborate affairs

Wedding and funerals are seen as key indicators of one's social status in Chinese culture, and there is an emphasis on holding extravagant affairs. 중국문화에서 결혼식이나 장례식은 사회적 위치를 가늠하는 중요한 지표들이다. 그래서 호화행사를 개최하는 걸 중시하는 경향이 있다.

Now, members are discouraged from using their power to "hold large parties" and using the "manpower and resources" that come with one's position, such as employees or service staff, at such events. 당원들은 자신의 권력을 이용해 "대규모 연회를 개최하거나", 그런 연회에서 자신의 직위 즉 고용주나 이에 상응하는 위치에 따라나오는 "인력이나 자원"을 이용해선 안 된다.

They also cannot use weddings and funerals "as vehicles to make money", so the custom of giving and receiving money at these events is frowned upon. 아울러 돈을 버는 계기로 결혼식이나 장례식을 이용할 수 없으므로, 이런 행사에서 돈을 주거나 받는 행위는 눈살을 찌푸리는 행위가 된다. (밝은 하늘: be frowned upon ~에 눈살을 찌프리다, 못마땅해하다)

A couple hug during feast at a wedding ceremony on 6 May 2006 in Nanchang of Jiangxi Province, China. — Image captionChinese weddings can feature lavish feasts with hundreds of guests

The watchdog noted that sometimes members could hold events on a very large scale or invite lots of guests" where in the process they would receive "large sums in gifts".

2. Don't be a nuisance 민폐 끼치는 존재가 되지 마라.

In smaller villages weddings and funerals can last days and involve mass processions.

The son of Xue Jinbo (portrait), a 42-year-old village leader who died in police custody, Xue Jindi (R) and locals attend the funeral ceremony in Wukan, a fishing village in the southern province of Guangdong on 16 December 2011 — Image captionMass processions can sometimes feature in funerals

So the guidance noted that such events cannot "disturb or obstruct daily production, lives, work, business, teaching, research, traffic and any other regular orders".

It added for good measure that they also cannot "injure or kill people" or "violate the interests of the country, collective and people".

A Chinese groom and bride bow to each other during a wedding ceremony on 19 January 2006 in Linze County of Gansu Province, northwest China — Image captionA wedding can be a major event for the local community particularly in rural villages

3. Leave behind the old traditions 옛날 관습을 떠나보내라.

Members are encouraged not to adhere blindly to their local cultural customs, although the watchdog stressed this did not mean a total ban on local traditions.

"Members, particularly those in the leadership, must note that they could cause a bad impression among the public, and so should observe customs while also organising simple and regular weddings and funerals," it said.

But the explanation cut no ice among some, as a backlash took place online. (밝은하늘: cut not ice 아무 소용이 없다)

Guests have a five-course banquet at a hotel during a wedding ceremony on 9 September 2006 in Beijing, China. — Image captionWeddings and funerals are seen as key indicators of one's social status in Chinese culture

On microblogging network Weibo, many users complained of the rules as being too overbearing and draconian.

"The enforcing of rules has become askew, even normal citizens are being regulated now," said one user.

"Holding a wedding can damage the country's interests? Are you referring to a marriage with the Dalai Lama?" mocked another.