Marriage in Asia

This introductory article provides some comparative background on marriage trends in Asia, to show where the countries included in this special issue fit into overall Asian and international patterns. It also notes the contribution of different chapters to our understanding of these issues. This special issue gives readers a taste of the diversity of Asia, by including articles on countries from Turkey in the west to the Philippines in the east, two of Asia’s three largest countries—China and Indonesia—and a country in South Asia—Sri Lanka. The articles examine the trends in marriage and explore the possible factors contributing to these trends in different national circumstances. We explore why, although similar forces continue to shape changes in Asian societies, including the institution of marriage, sharp differences in marriage patterns and systems persist throughout the region. Finally, we note limitations in extant literature and speculate about future marriage trends in Asia.