Rethinking the Studies of Mosuo MatrilinealMarriage and Family Form

来源 :民族学刊 | 被引量 : 0次 | 上传用户:magi9999
下载到本地 , 更方便阅读
声明 : 本文档内容版权归属内容提供方 , 如果您对本文有版权争议 , 可与客服联系进行内容授权或下架
论文部分内容阅读
  Abstract:Most social groups in the present world have a patrilineal system. However some investigations show that more than 150 ethnic groups with small populations have matrilineal systems. In the society of these groups woman have an elevated status; they are the organizers and managers of production and daily life; and both consanguinity and property are transmitted via the matrilineal line. Moreover, there are mechanisms which relate to the maintenance of the matrilineal family, the ethics and morality of kinship relations; and serve as the principal for behaviors. All these show us that matrilineal culture differs from patrilineal culture. It should be noted that the existence of matrilineal culture in present day China shows the diversity of Chinese culture, or even of human culture. In recent decades, the matrilineal family and matrilineal culture of the Mosuo people, who live around the Lugu Lake in Southwest China, have drawn the attention of more and more people. The local government has initiated relevant preservation work. However, within the background of rapid economic development, the matrilineal culture of the Mosuo people is experiencing an unprecedented impact, and the matrilineal marriage practice and family form is in danger of actually collapsing. How can this culture be protected? There are many issues which need to be discussed and explored. The marriage practice and family form of the Mosuo lies at the core of its matrilineal culture. Although there is considerable relevant research on this topic, I feel that there are several issues worthy of further exploration.
  If we look at the limited historical literature and investigation materials, we can see that there are multiple reasons for the appearance and long-term continuance of the matrilineal family and the so-called “walking marriage” custom of the Mosuo people: 1) The geographical environment and natural conditions. Lugu Lake is called “xie na mi” in the Mosuo language, which means a large area of water. The word “mi” means “female, mother or the Yin principle”. Therefore, according to the Mosuo language, Lugu Lake means “Mother Lake”. Lugu Lake is a freshwater, high mountain lake which lies between the Jinsha and Ya-lung Rivers; it covers an area of more than 50 square kilometers. Historically, Lugu Lake and its surrounding area were far away from transportation routes and the towns and cities of Sichuan and Yunnan. As such it was relatively isolated. However, the lake and its surrounding areas had rich resources. Within such a geographic environment and natural conditions, the population flow or migration was very rare. 2) The number of the members of a matrilineal family is generally 7-10, sometimes reaching 32 in the area south of Yongning. The most important characteristic of this kind of large family is that the family has a high number of laborers. In the Lugu Lake area, where agriculture is the main activity of production and where productivity is low, the survival of this kind of family is easier than that of a small patrilineal family consisting of one husband and one wife. “In the matrilineal family, there are no conflicts between mother and daughter, and between couples, thus the family is very happy and harmonious”. At the same time, there are no problems with regard to providing support to old people and raising orphans. Because of these characteristics the Mosuo people naturally endorsed this system, and as such, it was maintained for a long time. Because similar geographical environmental and natural conditions exist in other places of Yunnan and Sichuan, there might be other important reasons for the existence of matrilineal culture around Lugu Lake. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, the ethnic origin of the Mosuo people might be another important reason for the appearance of Mosuo matrilineal culture. It is generally acknowledged that the ethnic origin of the Mosuo is related to the ancient Qiang people. Some historical literature indicates that the ancient Qiang had both patrilineal and matrilineal systems. The culture of the ancient Qiang who migrated to the south merged with that of the local tribes, and their matrilineal culture, which was also brought to the southwestern region, took root in the relatively isolated area, such as the Lugu Lake area. An in-depth discussion on the causes for the appearance and continuity of the Mosuos matrilineal culture will help us to take proper actions to protect this culture.   The matrilineal marriage practice and family form previously existed widely in Chinas history. In addition to the ancient Qiang mentioned above, ancestors of the Han also had this kind of system. However, due to socio-economic development, the patrilineal system was gradually adopted by the Han people. The matrilineal marriage custom and family form have mostly disappeared in the hinterland of China, and remnants only exist in a few places or social groups. Previous studies have different opinions on the issue of whether all ethnic groups who call themselves as “Na” had matrilineal marriage and family form. Some remnants of matrilineal culture can be found in Lijiangs Naxi s Dongba scriptures, vocabularies and marriage customs, which indicate that, historically, they had matrilineal marriage and family form. In addition to the Naxi of Lijiang, the Namuyi people of Mianning, whose origins are related historically with the Mosuo people in Lugu Lake area, also have remains of matrilineal cultural in their marriage customs. It is worth of mentioning here the matrilineal marriage customs and family form of the Zhaba people in Daofu county, Ganzi prefecture, Sichuan province. In the 1960s, the matrilineal culture of the Zhaba people has been noted, and given a primary research focus by the scholars of Sichuan. In the 1980s, some Sichuan scholars clearly proposed that the Zhaba people practiced the “walking marriage” custom. In the 21st century, Sichuan scholars suggested that the Zhaba people might be remnants from the Tang Dynasty dongnu guo (Eastern Female Kingdom), and whose matrilineal culture lasted to the present time. After making a comprehensive analysis of the marriage practices and family forms and/or related cultural remains of the Zhaba people, Namuyi people and Mosuo people, some scholars proposed the idea of a “matrilineal cultural belt” in the Tibetan-Yi corridor. They believe that there is such a cultural belt in the Ya-lung river area of Sichuan, and that, moreover, this cultural belt is related historically with the “Eastern Female Kingdom”. I support the idea of “matrilineal cultural belt”. Through an analysis of the historical literature, there must be such a cultural belt in the history. However, the area of this cultural belt should include not only the Ya-lung river area, but also some part of Jinsha river area, as well as some areas between the Ya-lung and Jinsha Rivers, i.e. the area of present day Ninglang in Lijiang and Yanyuan in Sichuan. As the result of different historical causes, the scope of the cultural belt became smaller and smaller. Whether or not the “matrilineal cultural belt” existed in the Tibetan-Yi corridor, whether other matrilineal cultural places exist in Sichuan and Yunnan, - all of these issues should be given further attention. It is worth of mentioning here that in the research for the protection of Mosuo matrilineal culture, we should pay attention to the Zhaba peoples matrilineal culture and their marriage-family form, and provide a comparative study on them.   Family form is connected with marriage forms. Generally speaking, a diversified marriage structure will bring a diversified family structure. Research studies of the Mosuo family in Yongning reflect that there are three kinds of family form in the local area, the: 1) matrilineal family; 2) patrilineal family; and 3) coexistence of a matrilineal-patrilineal family. Within these three forms of family, the matrilineal family is the one which appears the earliest. With regard to the patrilineal family, some scholars think that it started to appear during the Yuan dynasty, and that its appearance is related to the central governments implementation of the Tusi system (native official) in Mosuo area. This viewpoint is reasonable, because both the Tusi and “sipi”( separated from Tusi family) adopted the patrilineal family system. However, in addition to this reason, some materials also indicate that there were patrilineal families which separated from matrilineal families due to other reasons. In addition to the matrilineal family and patrilineal family, there is also a kind of matrilineal-patrilineal family. Based upon their investigations, some scholars suggest that the matrilinealpatrilineal families of the Mosuo “ are a kind of transitional form from the matrilineal family to patrilineal family”. It is worth noting here that Zhaba people in Sichuan province also have matrilinealpatrilineal families. However, the reasons for this are different from those of the Mosuo. In the case of the Zhaba, it seems that this form is not a kind of transition from the matrilineal family to patrilineal family. It is just for the purpose of continuing the blood line, and, in this case, the matrilineal and patrilineal forms could be alternated and switched. The analysis of the Zhaba people with regard to the appearance of the mixed matrilinealpatrilineal family form gives us a hint that the matrilinealpatrilineal family form of the Mosuo might not be a transitional form from between the two different family systems, but that in many cases, it is the result from the purpose of continuing the blood lines of a family. On the whole, the reasons for the coexistence of the three different family forms among the Mosuo are: 1) the reasons for the existence of matrilineal family form have not changed radically; 2) the patrilineal family form appears with political, economic and cultural change; 3) the mixed matrilinealpatrilineal family form appears in special situations when people need to continue the blood line of the family. Of course, this issue needs further study. After an analysis of the relevant materials collected from investigations, we should point out that the phenomena of the coexistence of matrilinealpatrilineal family form of the Mosuo people will continue to exist while at the same time, the matrilineal cultural values will still exist and occupy a certain position. However, their relative proportions will change over time.   Key Words:Mosuo; Naxi; marriage and family form; matrilineal culture; ethnic cultural studies
  References:
  A. Jackson. yetan dongbajing zhong fanying de naxi qinshu zhidu(On Naxi Kinship System in Dongba Manuscripts).Bai Gengsheng,Yang Fuquan,trans.In guoji dongba wenhua yanjiu jicui(A Collection of International Dongba Cultural Studies).Kunming:yunnan renmin chubanshe,1993.
  bianzheng sheji weiyuanhui ed. yanyuanxian jiusuo tusi zuijin gaikuang(Present Situation of the Tusi in Jiusuo of Yanyuan County ). In yanyuanxian gaikuang ziliao jiyao( Data Collection of the General Situation of Yanyuan County).1940.
  Guo Dalie,He Zhiwu.naxizu shi (History of the Naxi).Chengdu:sichuan minzu chubanshe,1999.
  G. Prunner.naxi xiangxingwen shougao zhong suo fangying de qinshu zhidu (Kinship System Reflected in Naxi Pictograph Manuscripts).Bai Gengsheng,Yang Fuquan,trans.In guoji dongba wenhua yanjiu jicui(Collection of International Dongba Cultural Studies).Kunming:yunnan renmin chubanshe,1993.
  He Shaoying.naxizu wenhuashi(Cultural History of the Naxi).Kunming:yunnan minzu chubanshe,2001.
  J. F. Rock.zhongguo xinan gu naxi wangguo (Ancient Naxi Kingdom in Southwest China).Liu Zongyue trans. Kunming:yunnan meishu chubanshe,1999.
  Li Xingxing.zangyi zoulang de wenhua tezheng (Cultural Characteristics of TibetanYi Corridor).In Forum of Chinese Culture,2003(1).
  Li Shaoming.xu (Preface).In naxizu lishi wenhua yanjiu(Naxi Historical Culture Studies).Zhao Xinyu. Beijing:minzu chubanshe,2008.
  Liu Yong,Fengmin.xianshui hepan de daofu zangzu duoyuan wenhua(Multiculture of the Daofu Tibetan in Xianshui River Area).Chengdu:sichuan minzu chubanshe,2005.
  Marco Polo.make boluo xingji·di 116 zhang “jian du zou”(The Travels of Marco Polo).Feng Chenjun trans.Shanghai: shanghai shudian chubanshe,1999.
  Ninglang yizu zizhixian zhi(History of Ninglang Yi Autonomous County).Kunming:yunnan minzu chubanshe,1993.
  Ren Naiqiang.hua yang guo zhi jiaobu tuzhu (Annotations to Hua Yang Guo Zhi).Shanghai:shanghai guji chubanshe,1987.
  Xu Zhongshu.xu (preface), In qiangzu shi (History of the Qiang).Rang Guangrong,Li Shaomin,ed.Chengdu:sichuan minzu chubanshe,1984.
  Yan Ruxian,Song Zaolin, Liu Yaohan.sichuansheng yanyuan muli liangxian nariren shehui diaocha(Social Survey on the Nari People in Yanyuan and Muli of Sichuan Province). In sichuansheng naxizu shehui lishi diaocha(An Investigation on the Social History of the Naxi in Sichuan).Chengdu:sichuansheng shekeyuan chubanshe,1987.
  Yanyuan xianzhi(History of Yanyuan).Chengdu:sichuan minzu chubanshe,2000.
  Yang Xuzheng.sichuansheng yanyuanxian zuosuoqu luowacun “nari”ren de hunyin xingtai he jiating jiegou diaocha(An Investigation of the Marriage Form and Family Structure of the Nari People at Luowa Village,Zuosuo District,Yanyuan County,Sichuan Province). In sichuansheng naxizu shehui lishi diaocha(An Investigation on the Social History of the Naxi in Sichuan).Chengdu:sichuansheng shekeyuan chubanshe,1987.
  Zhan Chengxu,Wang Chengquan.yongning naxizu de azhuhun he muxi jiating(Azhu Marriage and Matrilineal Family of the Naxi in Yongning).Shanghai:shanghia renmin chubanshe,1980.
  Zhou Rucheng. yongning jianwenlu(Observations in Yongning). In naxizu shehui lishi diaocha(Investigation of the Naxis Social History).Kunming:yunnan minzu chubanshe,1986.
其他文献
JOURNAL OF ETHNOLOGY, VOL. 8, NO.1, 89-93, 2017 (CN51-1731/C, in Chinese)  DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1674-9391.2017.01.11 Abstract:The understanding of the traditional research of Kangding Guozhuo mainly cov
期刊
[摘要]中国边贸政策良好、经济繁荣背景下,除世代跨境居住的少数民族外,中缅沿边城镇涌入了大量跨境谋求务工、商贸机会的缅甸籍人员。缅甸籍外来人口已位居在华常住人口的第四位,且主要沿云南中缅边境线分布。本文基于对瑞丽国家开发开放试验区缅甸籍人员的深度调查,指出“作为跨境民族的缅甸籍人员”与“作为跨境流动、族裔聚居的缅甸籍人员”的结构性差别,并对其生计方式、聚居生活空间与宗教实践方式作了区别描述。  [
期刊
Abstract:In recent years, with globalization, the promotion of urbanization, and achievements in modern science and technology, food culture has undergone changes in the structure of diet, utensils, f
期刊
Abstract:This paper discusses the cultural meanings of the Naxi ethnic groups food customs from six perspectives. First, the paper discusses the food traditions as reflected in the Naxi manuscripts of
期刊
[摘要]嘉绒语是一种保留了古代藏语面貌的独特语言:复辅音极为丰富,复辅音可以在元音前也可在元音后(CCCVCCC),无书面语。嘉绒谚语以特定的文化元素,反映了族群的文化认同,并通过口耳相传的方式代代传承。随着经济全球化趋势的形成和中国农村城镇化的开始,嘉绒谚语的生存和传承环境逐渐丧失了土壤和空间,嘉绒谚语在年轻一代中也正处于这种状况。以笔者所调查的米亚罗为例,当地的青年人大部分人不会嘉绒话,这就意
期刊
Abstract:The Rgyalrong language is a unique language which preserves features of ancient Tibetan, for example, it includes rich consonant clusters; and the consonant clusters can be placed before or a
期刊
(Southwest Nationalities Research Academy,Southwest University for  Nationalities,Chengdu,610041,Sichuan,China)  JOURNAL OF ETHNOLOGY,VOL.6,NO.6,23-29,2015 (CN51-1731/C,in Chinese)  DOI:10.3969/j.issn
期刊
Abstract:Since ancient times, the concepts of yinyang and wuxing (the five elements) have been an important part of the philosophical world of the Chinese people. It is a component of their “ideologic
期刊
[摘要]文章对四川民族自治地方人口受教育程度及其对经济发展的作用进行了分析。研究发现,2000年以来四川民族自治地方人口平均受教育年限有了较大提高,文盲率显著下降,技能型人口比重也有一定的提高,但相对于发达地区和经济社会发挥及全面小康的需要,四川民族自治地方人口受教育程度依然较低,特别是技能型人口缺乏,文盲率还较高,受教育的性别差异较大。对人口受教育程度与经济发展的分析表明,受教育程度的提高、技能
期刊
[摘要]以成都彝族果商为例,使用2014年度六次入户访谈(采取彝汉双语半结构深度访谈)和抽样问卷的统计资料,针对彝族果商形成的原因及社会影响进行梳理、论证,提出城市管理工作中涉及少数民族管理的可行性建议。少数民族在进入城市生存与发展过程中,非常愿意接受城市营销管理规则和城市人基本权益等常识,然而苦于无处获得有益的信息。目前城市管理工作中,对少数民族外来人口一直滞留于以干预为主的模式。少数民族人口流
期刊