While it is common practice to first fall in love and then compare horoscopes to see if the individuals are matched, many people these days are resorting to fortunetelling before they choose a marriage partner.
Xie Ming-yan, who is planning to get married next year, said that as most men and women try to hide their shortcomings when dating, he actually consulted a fortuneteller to recommend the proper mate for him. He believes that this lets everyone air their personalities and various traits in the open before deciding whether they want to go ahead and pursue a relationship, and as such, this practice is better than waiting to get married before finding out more about one's partner.
An activity held jointly Aug. 15 by the Single Person's Care Association of the ROC, the World Federation of the Unmarried and the World I Ching Association to mark Chinese Valentine's Day attracted a large number of unmarried men and women to congregate in front of the God of Marriage at the Xiahai Chenghuang Temple on Taipei's Dihua Street.
The singles had a drink of "good fortune tea," and were aided by love beans and good fortune sacks. They also took part in the traditional ritual of throwing an embroidered ball, which is thought to be a way to find the right husband, hoping that the God of Marriage would help them find their perfect partner as soon as possible.
A Mr. Xu, who is in his early 40s, said he does not have a wide group of friends and he has never had the right opportunity to meet the perfect person for him. But at this activity he met a quite a few members of the opposite sex.
Meanwhile, a Miss Wang, 37, revealed that although she has passed the most appropriate marrying age in the eyes of many people, she is not giving up hope on finding the right mate to spend the rest of her life with.
Xie, who works in the financial services industry, and his girlfriend also consulted a matchmaking service that included the characteristics of the other person's personality, as well as their traits, believing that the men and women should have a mutual understanding of each other before they begin dating. The couple has already bought a home.
Lee Hui-hui, head of the WFU’s matchmaking section, said quite a few people are on the verge of getting married before they consult their eight-character horoscope. However, Lee said, by consulting the “I Ching,” also known as the “Book of Changes,” and tarot cards, as well as other fortunetelling information, it is possible to determine whether the match is a good one.
These means also help to reveal whether people are predestined to be together. Lee said if two people are interested in dating, her organization will provide each party with information on the other to serve as a reference before they start to date. So far the procedure has helped quite a few couples form successful relationships, and some even have plans to marry, Lee noted.
(This article originally appeared in The Liberty Times Aug. 16.)