China bridesmaid, 20, suffers spinal fracture during wedding hazing, court orders S$43,872 compensation

A 20-year-old bridesmaid from central China suffered a spinal fracture after a wedding hazing, or hun nao in Chinese, went wrong.

According to the South China Morning Post, wedding rituals are still common in various parts of China.

It has reportedly been part of traditional Chinese wedding customs for thousands of years, having originally been intended to create a festive atmosphere and drive away evil spirits.

However, the rituals have come under criticism after some escalated into acts of violence and humiliation.

During the wedding hazing, one of the groomsmen pushed the bridesmaid, surnamed Zhang, onto a bed.

Several men then tossed Zhang into the air by holding the corners of the bedsheet.

She eventually fell to the floor after the men failed to catch her.

She was then hospitalised for 18 days.

About a year later, around August 2024, Zhang was assessed by a forensic judicial institution to have a serious level-nine disability.

The incident

On Oct. 4, 2023, Zhang was invited to be a bridesmaid at a wedding in Ruyang, Henan Province, reported Hong Kong-based news outlet HK01.

The wedding party occurred in the bridal chamber.

At the time, Zhang was hiding inside a closet for reasons that were not explained.

After the bride and groom left, one of the groomsmen apparently dragged her out of the closet and onto the bed.

According to Chinese media outlet gmw.cn, a group of people stuffed Zhang under the bed covers, grabbed the corners of the bedsheet, and began tossing her into the air.

After the second toss, they failed to catch Zhang, causing her to fall to the floor.

SCMP reported that there were about 10 people involved, all of whom were men, most of them groomsmen.

Zhang was hospitalised for 18 days after being diagnosed with a lumbar vertebral fracture.

About a year later, around August 2024, Zhang was assessed by a forensic judicial institution to have a serious level-nine disability.

It corresponds to a 20 per cent disability rate, a system of injury assessment used in China.

Court's decision

Zhang later sued the married couple and those involved in the prank.

She sought 270,000 yuan (S$51,506) in compensation from the parties involved.

The court later ruled that the married couple were responsible for Zhang's injuries, as they knew about the wedding hazing but did not stop it in time.

Wang Moubing, the groomsman who pulled Zhang out of the closet, was also found to be at fault.

The others involved could not prove that they had not taken part in the hazing and were apparently held jointly liable.

The court ordered the parties involved to pay Zhang a total of 230,000 yuan (S$43,872) in compensation.

The court ordered the married couple to bear around 40 per cent of the compensation, while Wang was ordered to bear around 22 per cent, according to SCMP.

The remaining liability was borne jointly by the others involved.