What is Si Dian Jin (四点金)

What is Si Dian Jin (四点金)? 

Literally meaning four pieces of gold, Si Dian Jin (四点金) is usually a gift from the groom’s parents to the bride. The gifting of Si Dian Jin represents the groom’s family’s promise that the bride will always be well taken care of, as well as to bless the newlyweds and their marriage.  

Traditionally for some families, Si Dian Jin is considered an heirloom and may be passed down to the couple’s daughter or daughter-in-law as their wedding dowry in the future.  This practise is not strict, and the number of jewellery pieces may vary according to different families. Sometimes, gold jewellery may also be given by various elders at various parts of a Chinese wedding, for example grandmothers or aunts to brides during tea ceremony. 

When is Si Dian Jin/gold jewellery given? 

Guo Da Li (过大礼) 

Otherwise known as the Chinese betrothal ceremony, the Guo Da Li ceremony is a Chinese wedding tradition where the first formal meeting between both the bride’s and groom’s families takes place. During the ceremony, several gift exchanges including the gifting of the betrothal ang pao and gold jewellery/Si Dian Jin take place. 

Tea Ceremony  

During the ceremony, the bride and groom will serve tea as a sign of respect to both sets of parents. In turn, parents will express their best wishes and blessings for the newlywed couple and present them with red packets or jewellery. Sometimes, gold jewellery or Si Dian Jin is given in this ceremony elders to the bride even to symbolise her welcome into the new, extended family. 

Who should buy Si Dian Jin? 

Traditionally, Si Dian Jin is chosen and bought by the mother-in-law of the bride. However, times are changing, and it is now more common for the bride to have a say or even choose the jewellery they prefer since they are the ones ultimately wearing the jewellery. 

How do I go about searching for my Si Dian Jin set? 

If you have the option to buy your own Si Dian Jin, understanding what matters to your future-in-laws is still important. If you're unsure or nervous about broaching the topic, ask your partner to be the middleman. It is also good to clarify the budget and if there are any specific requirements, for example how many pieces of gold jewellery you should be getting and whether a particular gold purity is preferred.  

For another blog related to Chinese weddings, check out: 

https://www.arthesdam.com.sg/blogs/news/chinese-weddings-gold-and-more  

For browsing of gold jewellery, check out: 

arthesdam.com.sg or visit our retail stores!