China’s Supreme People’s Court has issued a warning against the practice of demanding excessive betrothal gifts, reports Caixin. The move comes as part of a state campaign to curb costly wedding customs that authorities say are destabilizing families and imposing heavy financial burdens.
In a press briefing Monday, the high court reiterated the legal principle prohibiting the “exaction of property through marriage.” The move addresses the traditional custom of caili—cash or assets paid by the groom’s family to the bride’s—which has spiraled into bidding wars in some regions, creating a barrier to marriage in a country struggling with demographic decline.
The 2026 policy roadmap laid out by the court calls for cultivating “simple and civilized” wedding cultures. The Supreme People’s Court said it will integrate the governance of high bride prices into its routine work, utilizing circuit courts to reach grassroots levels and collaborating with the All-China Women’s Federation to prevent disputes before they escalate.