The Chinese Bridal Sedan

The sedan is a mode of transport that was used in ancient China. For weddings, a bridal sedan is used to take the bride to the groom's house.

Historians believe that bridal sedans were first used in the Tang Dynasty. To reduce the growing power consolidation of the seven most powerful and influential clans at the time, the emperor prohibited the descendants of these seven clans from inter-clan marriages. However, these clans continued inter-clan marriages secretly, sending the brides to the groom's homes under the cover of a sedan at night. It was not until the Song Dynasty that all prohibitions were lifted, and the usage of sedans by commoners was also allowed. From then on, the usage of colorful and elaborately decorated bridal sedans became widespread.