作月子的人類學探討：醫療功能與文化詮釋的關係

An Anthropological Investigation of Traditional Chinese Post-natal Care: The Interrelation between Recuperative Function and Cultural Meaning

翁玲玲(Ling-ling Wong)

《婦女與兩性學刊》 4期 (1993/03) Pp. 1-19

https://doi.org/10.6255/JWGS.1993.4.1

摘要

漢人婦女產後作月子的習俗，歷經數千年不衰，且不分地區的深入每一個漢人家庭，其重要性自不待言。本文即針對作月子的儀式內容及儀式所包含的醫療意義，試為探討詮釋。
作月子儀式中醫療性的儀式行為包括飲食及行為兩個層面。本文透過深入了解食補、藥補、不勞動、不碰生泠水等等行為規範與禁忌，進一步論證作月子不只具有一般人所知外顯的強身功能，同時也具有内含的社會文化意義。研究結果顯示：作月子儀式中的醫療性儀式行為，包含了漢人由經驗累積而來的生理認知及醫療觀念，並由此而充分完整的表達了漢人「均衡和諧」的宇宙觀。而其中保護增強性的儀式行為所包含的「再生產」的意義，不但表達了漢人「實用」的價值觀，亦一舉道盡漢人心中最深沈的期待與恐懼－延續承的是與否。

關鍵字

作月子 ； 均衡和諧 ； 再生產 ； 實用 ； 宇宙觀 ； 價值觀

並列摘要

The custom of post-natal sequestration among Chinese women has been practiced continuously for millenia in all parts of China. Its significance therefore, needs no further discussion. This essay attempts an explication of the ritual content of post-natal sequestration and the recuperative significance included in its rituals.
The recuperative ritual behavior contained in the post-natal sequestration ritual includes two dimensions: foodstuffs and actions. This essay scrutinizes in depth such practices as guidelines for using foodstuffs and medicines to replenish nourishment and bodily substances lost during childbirth, and strictures against working or coming into contact with unboiled water, to demonstrate that post-natal sequestration not only has the bodily strengthening functions commonly recognized, but also implicit socio-cultural significance.
The results of this study indicate that the recuperative behavior in the ritual of postnatal sequestration includes the Chinese biological understanding of the body and medicinal concepts accrued by experience over the ages. From these medicinal concepts we can glimpse the Chinese worldview of ”harmony and balance.” The reproductive significance contained in this ritual not only expresses Chinese ”practical” values, but also clearly conveys the most profound hope and fear of all Chinese: whether or not their line will be continued.

並列關鍵字

post-natal sequestration ； harmony ； balance ； practical ； reproduction ； world view