From the oldest collection of Chinese poetry, the Book of Songs, a soldier's vow to his wife:
"In life and death, in separation and hardship,
I made a promise to you:
I hold your hand,
And grow old with you."
These four lines, written over 2,500 years ago, remain the most popular wedding vow in the Chinese-speaking world. They are simple, direct, and absolute: through war, through famine, through every trial — I hold your hand. That is all. That is everything.
死生契阔，与子成说。执子之手，与子偕老。
死生契阔，与子成说。执子之手，与子偕老。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
The greatest love stories are not about passion or tragedy — they are about two people who keep holding hands until the very end.
The "执子之手，与子偕老" passage from the Shijing is remarkable for its simplicity. There are no metaphors, no flourishes, no poetic devices. Just a hand, held. Just a life, shared. Just old age, together.
Originally written as a soldier's promise before battle, the lines have transcended their military context to become the universal Chinese expression of marital devotion. In an age of elaborate wedding speeches and romantic declarations, this ancient poem reminds us that the deepest promises are the simplest ones.