Marriage registration authorities in Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces confirmed on Thursday that the faint "double happiness" symbol seen on the back of divorce certificates is an anti-counterfeit mark, after the detail attracted widespread attention online.

The watermark, which also appears on marriage certificates, is a security measure rather than a decorative element, Jimu News reported.

China introduced redesigned marriage and divorce certificates on Jan 1, 2004, after a regulation issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs the year prior, changing the divorce certificate cover from green to red to help reduce social prejudice toward divorce. Old-style certificates were fully phased out by July 1 that year.

The double happiness symbol is a traditional Chinese wedding motif commonly used in celebratory settings. It is widely regarded as an emblem of shared joy, harmony, and good fortune for newlyweds.

zhaoruinan@chinadaily.com