The story of 娶

marry

取 is composed of 取(to get, to take) and 女(woman). 取 depicts an ear being picked by a hand, it is the picture of soldiers cutting the ears of the captives as their trophies. In ancient China, the society regards men as superior to women, for men who want to marry, women is like trophies in the war, so 娶 means male taking female as his wife.