走出禁忌－近代中國女性的經期衛生(1895-1949)

Coming out of the Taboo: Menstrual Period Hygiene of Women in Modern China, 1895-1949

周春燕(Chun-Yan Chou)

《國立政治大學歷史學報》 28期 (2007/11) Pp. 231-285

https://doi.org/10.30383/TJH.200711_(28).0005

摘要

月經，在傳統中國，除在醫籍中被簡短記述之外，社會上鮮少提及。近代因國勢日衰，知識分子從天演論中逐漸領悟到「強國強種」的道理，女體與國族間的關聯才受到重視，而被傳統中醫視爲女性健康之鑰的月經，也成爲人們討論的話題之一。隨著西方婦科知識的東傳，以及北京、上海等地女性雜誌之出現，西醫月經知識透過這些刊物輸入，傳統中醫的經絡血氣說日漸受到挑戰。這些刊物所引介的月經知識，從解剖生理出發，認爲月經是生理的正常現象，而非不潔或邪惡的。其次，傳統中國因用水不便，再加上中醫主張經期應「避風寒」，許多女性在行經時並不沐浴；但西醫則從預防感染的角度，鼓勵女性從事外陰部清潔。再者，傳統中國婦女多以破布、粗糙的草紙來承接經血，西方新式月經用品的引入，逐漸讓這種情況有所改變。1920年代初，上海及杭州已出現經過消毒的改良式月經布；1920年代末，上海又出現強調以科學方式製造，經醫師推薦的新式衛生棉，及塞入型的月經擋。這些新式的經期用品，雖爲中國都會女性提供更舒適安全的選擇，但因價格不菲，普及性應該不高；倒是另一種以橡皮製成，用以固定布類或棉花的月經帶，因具有可清洗及重覆使用的優點，更符合多數婦女的需求，乃成爲抗戰時期女性雜誌經常介紹的用品。總之，月經知識經過近代刊物介紹，與新式月經用品之傳入及其公開販售後，使得過去被視爲禁忌的月經，逐漸走出禁忌的囹圄，並且成爲公眾議題之一。

關鍵字

經期衛生 ； 天演論 ； 女體 ； 國族 ； 沐浴 ； 月經帶

並列摘要

Monthly menstruation is seldom mentioned in society in traditional China except for brief records in the medical books. In modern China due to the decline of the national situation, the intellectual class gradually perceives from the evolutionary theory the idea that ”strong nations need strong people”, and greater attention is given to the relationship between the female body and the national race. Consequently, menstruation, which was viewed as an area of women health by the traditional medical books, has become a topic of conversation among people. Following the transmission of Western gynecology knowledge to the East, as well as the appearance of female magazines in Beijing and Shanghai, and the entry of Western medical knowledge on menstruation through these magazines, the concept of meridians and vigor in traditional Chinese medicine is being challenged day by day. The menstruation knowledge that is introduced in these magazines approaches the issue from the basis of anatomic physiology, and provides the opinion that menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon, and is neither unclean nor evil. Furthermore, due to the inconvenience of using water in traditional China, and the fact that Chinese medicine asserts that during the menstrual period ”cold conditions should be avoided”, many women do not bathe during their menstrual period. On the other hand, Western medicine views the matter from the perspective of preventing infection, and encourages women to clean their genitals. In addition, women in traditional China mostly use rags and rough straw paper to collect the menstrual blood, but with the introduction of new menstruation products from the West, such a situation is starting to change. In the beginning of the 1920's, improved menstrual cloth that had been sterilized began to be seen in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Towards the end of the 1920's new sanitary pads were seen in Shanghai that emphasized manufacturing through scientific methods and that were recommended by doctors, and which could be inserted. Although these new menstruation products provided a more comfortable and safer choice for women in Chinese society, they were not used widely due to their high prices. Rather, it was the menstrual pad made from rubber and using fixed fabric or cotton that met the requirements of more women, due to its advantages of being washable and recycled for use, and it was the common recommendation of most magazines during the Sino-Japanese War period. In conclusion, following the introduction of menstruation knowledge by modern magazines, and after the entry and public sales of new menstruation products, the taboo attached to menstruation in the past has been gradually eliminated, and it is now a topic of conversation among the public.

並列關鍵字

menstrual period hygiene ； the evolutionary theory ； female body ； national race ； sanitary napkins ； bath

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