We agree to the marriage contract between
these two unborn children on their behalf.(指腹為婚)
We will now agree on the marriage contract
between the two unborn children).
During the time of the Northern and
Southern Dynasties in China, there was a famous minister in the Northern Wei
Kingdom, his name was (Cui Hao).
There is a story about him recorded in the
history books.
He has a younger brother, and his younger
brother's name is (Cui Tian).
He had a good relationship with his younger
brother, and they were both officials in the Northern Wei Kingdom.
They each have a daughter, and their
daughters are about the same age.
When his and his brother's daughters grew
up, they got married and became pregnant at about the same time.
One day, at a family gathering, he made a
suggestion in front of everyone.
He said to their daughter and his niece.
You two have grown up together and your
relationship is better than that of biological sisters.
You are both pregnant and your due dates
are similar.
I have a suggestion.
Soon you will each give birth to a child.
If the two children happen to be a boy and
a girl, we will now agree on the marriage contract between the two unborn
children.
If they marry as adults, they will be
husband and wife.
Our two families can continue to have such
a close relationship and deep affection.
What do you think of this proposal?
His daughter, niece and brother all agreed
with him.
His approach has influenced a small number
of Chinese people in later generations.
This small group of Chinese people also
follow his example and decide the marriage contract for their children before
they are born.
The meaning of this saying is that we will
now agree on the marriage contract between the two unborn children.
Dear friend, what inspirations or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
If you were the unborn child, would you, as
an adult, rebel against the arrangements made by your father and mother? What
do you think is the most important factor in a successful marriage?
I hope this story has given you some new
insights.
指腹為婚(We agree to the marriage contract
between these two unborn children on their behalf.)
在中國的南北王朝時代，北魏王國有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做(崔浩)。
歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
他有一個弟弟，他的弟弟名字叫做(崔恬)。
他與他的弟弟的感情很好，他與他的弟弟都在北魏王國擔任官員。
他們各自有一個女兒，他們的女兒的年齡差不多。
他與他的弟弟的女兒長大後，各自結婚然後又差不多同時懷孕。
有一天，在一場家族聚會中，他當眾提出了一個建議。
他對她的女兒與他的姪女說。
你們兩個人從小一起長大，你們的感情比親姊妹更好。
你們兩個人都懷孕了，你們的預產期也差不多。
我提出一個建議。
過不久妳們會各自生下一個小孩。
如果這兩個小孩剛好是一個男孩與一個女孩，我們現在就先這兩個尚未出生的小孩約定他們兩個人的婚約。
因為如果他們兩個人成年後結婚成為夫妻。
我們兩個家族就可以持續維持如此緊密的關係與深厚的感情。
你們覺得這個提議如何?
他的女兒與他的姪女還有他的弟弟都贊同他的看法。
他的這個做法影響了後代一小部分的中國人。
這一小部分中國人也仿效他們的行為，在自己孩子尚未出生前，就先為自己的孩子決定他們的婚約。
這句成語的意思是我們現在就先這兩個尚未出生的小孩約定他們兩個人的婚約。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
如果你是那個尚未出生的小孩，你成年後會反抗父親與母親的安排嗎?你認為一樁成功的婚姻最主要的因素為何呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為魏書-列傳卷26-王慧龍傳