First, in ancient times, dowry was actually equivalent to concubine.
When we watch a lot of costume dramas, we often see young ladies from big families who get married and always wear dowry girls. Maybe you're curious about what a dowry girl is. In fact, in ancient times, the maid who accompanied him was called Teng concubine. In ancient times, it was divided into two types: one was the "in-laws" between countries, so the maid who accompanied him was usually played by his own sister or cousin, and the other was the common people, the rich or the family, usually played by the maid who grew up with the young lady.
Second, the young lady goes to bed with her son-in-law when it is inconvenient.
You may be curious, why did a lady from a big family bring a maid to marry her? In fact, it is because when a young lady is pregnant or pregnant, it will be inconvenient to share a room with her children.
The girl who marries him usually sleeps with her uncle with the consent of the young lady. This kind of girl who sleeps with her uncle is also called "housemaid". If you get along well, it will usually be Teng concubine, that is, a wife who is second to his wife. The maid's main function is to take advantage and prevent other women from being jealous. At the same time, maids generally serve as their own eyes and ears and helpers to help girls stabilize their family status.
Third, the dowry is basically a mistress.
First of all, a good girl will definitely have a maid who has served her since she was a child. After living for more than ten years, her feelings must be very good. Therefore, the dowry girl plays the role of a good girl's eyes and ears and helper in the man's house, and is the "own" of the young lady. In the past, people got married at the request of their parents, and most brides and grooms never fell in love. To the bride, the groom is a stranger, let alone a member of the groom's family.
For the bride, having a maid to accompany her to her husband's house will not be completely helpless. One is naked, and there are no two people crying and being bullied. Secondly, for the groom, this is also a bride price attached to the marriage, which shows that Zhang Yue families attach importance to marriage. Men in ancient big families were all three wives and four concubines with many branches and leaves. A good girl is usually the first wife. According to feudal ethics, these dowries used to be used to warm the bed as long as the children wanted.
In particular, a young lady can't have sex when she is pregnant, so that the girl who is married can accompany the man to solve his physiological needs; The second is to avoid "xianggong" from finding himself a second room that he can't cope with to challenge his position; Third, the names of all his virtues. So in ancient times, young ladies' dowry girls were basically mistresses.