Research On The Traditional Childbirth Customs And Its Modern Changes In The Village Of Zouma Town In The Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Fertility,as a " Rite Of Passage",is a process of changing roles and identities for women and a process of gradual acquisition of new life and life skills for infants,all of which are endowed with rich social and cultural significance.Childbearing customs in civil society usually include two aspects:One is the various production customs in the process of praying for a child before pregnancy,giving birth during pregnancy,and then " confinement" after childbirth.The second is the important rituals,such as giving good news,washing three children(congratulating the child),playing three dynasties or " sending rice",shaving fetal hair,nursing and weaning,expelling diseases and evil spirits,and life skills training.This article takes Zouma,Wanzhou which is located in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area,as the field point.By using the methods of field investigation,literature research and comparative research,this paper records,analyzes and compares the local traditional and modern fertility customs from the perspective of folklore and anthropology,summarizes the characteristics,values,modern changes and their influencing factors of the traditional fertility customs,and reflects on the variability and stability of the traditional folk fertility customs under the modern background.This paper holds that the traditional rural fertility customs in Zouma of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area have certain characteristics.For example,the rituals related to fertility customs are rich and complicated,and folk beliefs play an important role in them.Fertility experience depends on intergenerational transmission and oral transmission,the individuality and family nature of fertility,and the high fertility risk coefficient.At the same time,its rural traditional birth customs also have many behaviors and habits worth continuing in the aspects of breast feeding,parent-child relationship and family education,which have certain value.Since the 1990 s,with the rapid development of Zouma's economy,the improvement of medical and health services,the convenience of transportation,the emergence of new media and the change of people's ideas,the traditional birth customs have undergone great changes,which are mainly reflected in the following aspects: from following the " old rules" to seeking " scientific upbringing";Babies grow from freedom to companionship;Fertility rituals are gradually simplified and customs are gradually diluted.Internet parenting has become the mainstream.