Random tidbit:

In Imperial China the minimum age for marriage was 16 for men and 14 for women.

This was set during the Song and the Ming and Qing continued it.

The ROC bumped the age limits up by 2 years in 1931.

Source: Grandpa's Letters by Wang Jingshan


An amusing passage from the same:

"In the South people have a habit of getting married early - eighteen for a man and seventeen for a woman - mainly out of regard for the fact that it is difficult for the young couple to maintain their virginity if they marry much later...

Based on human physiology, no matter whether in a nation or a society, men are always the principal players whereas women are subordinate. This is the way it is; no one can do anything about it... As far as a woman's responsibilities at home are concerned, a high school education is enough, why college?"


Addendum: @reivad:

"I feel its hypocritical of the older generation to expect young ppl to remain virgins b4 marriage when they married so young."