《中國生活研究》第二章：生育的風俗（英文） 【加】Adam Grainger

Birth1 Customs

When a child is expected, the wife's mother2, carrying a present of chicken, eggs, sesamum oil, and other things, pays a visit to her daughter3.

Just before the child is born a sorcerer4 is called in to exorcise all evil influences5 from the house, and so ensure peace.This is called the “Exorcism of Great Peace6.”

At the birth a midwife7 is called in. Should the birth8 be attended with difficulty, recourse is had to fire-crackers, guns,or whatever other device can be thought of to scare away the evil spirits.

After the child is born the maternal grandmother comes again bringing presents of clothing, cap, and shoes for the baby,and of eatables for the mother9. The neighbours and friends also congratulate the parents.

The birth of a boy is called a “Great Joy 10,” and the birth of a girl a “Small Jor11”. A boy is also spoken of as “one who plays with a jade toy12,” and a girl as “one who plays with apotsherd13”.

A day or two after the child is born, the father, bearing a present of red eggs, proceeds to the home of his near relatives to report the birth14. He also sends red eggs15to his friends and acquaintances, who respond, anytime within the month,by

1.降生  2.岳母、親娘、老丈母  3.催生  4.端公、巫師、巫術  5.打保福  6.太平保福  7.穩婆、接生婆、剪生婆、取生婆  8.臨盆  9.打三朝  10.大喜  11.小喜  12.弄璋  13.弄瓦  14.報喜  15.紅蛋

sending presents of food for the mother, or clothing and ornaments for the baby1.

Considerable solicitude is felt regarding the first visitor2 to the house, as the child's whole career may be blighted by meeting with an ill-starred person.

The midwife is invited to the house on the third day to wash the baby for the first time3. (Some babies are not washed till they are several months old.) After tie baby has been washed, the midwife and the mother worship the Goddess or Progeny4: offering a chicken, and burning candles, incense,and paper before her shrine. The shrine, which is the property of the midwife,usually consists of the name, or a rough sketch of the goddess, on a small cardboard screen.The female relatives are present, and a feast is prepared; after which the midwife is “thanked5” with a few hundred, or a few thousand cash, according to the standing of the family, and here her duties end.

The mother is confined to the house for at least a month6.After a full month, the relatives and friends who have given presents are invited to a feast7. Sometimes the women  only are invited, as this is said to be simply a women's affair.

When the child is a month or so old, a barber is called into shave its head ail over8. He uses an old razor for this operation,because it is impossible to sharpen a razor again after it has been used to shave a milk-baby's head. About double his ordinary fee, wrapped in red paper, is given as remuneration.

On the first anniversary of the boy's birth9, the relatives and friends bring presents of baby clothes, hats, ornaments, play-things10, and red eggs. The baby is placed on the floor, and around him are laid various articles, such as, a book, pencil,chopsticks. money, etc. ; or the articles may be arranged on a tray and placed before him. The first thing the baby grabs at11,shows what he is going to become. If he seizes a book,he will become a scholar; if money, a wealthy man; and so on.A feast concludes the ceremony.

1.送月米、送月禮、送湯餅  2.逢生  3.洗三  4.送子娘娘  5.謝穩婆  6.坐月  7.滿月酒  8.剃胎毛  9.滿一歲  10.耍玩意兒  11.抓週、週歲、碎盤、做歲歲

PETITIONING THE GODS1.

A woman who has died in childbirth2 is said to have been a great sinner, and therefore unclean3: There is no place for her in Hades4. The relatives must burn a complete house and kitchen outfit5 for her, so that she may be able to find shelter and to cook her own food. Tie demons all molest her, and give her no rest till the gods are petitioned on her behalf.

A few Taoist priests are called in. They first hang up a scroll6 bearing the portraits of the Three Goddess7 who control natal affairs, the Son Bestowing Goddess8, and the Smallpox and Measies Goddess9. After burning incense and candies, and chanting prayers, a petition10 for the woman's forgiveness and release11 is drawn up12 on yellow paper, enclosed in a large envelope13, and burned.

The room in which the woman died is then entered, a hole made through the roof, and the spirit tablet14. passed through to a person above. The spirit of the deceased woman is then said to have been released, and to have safely reached the Peach Fountain Cave15 of the Three Goddesses.

1. 奏曹  2.產難  3.不乾淨  4.陰間  5.燒紙伙  6.神龕子  7.三婆娘娘、三霄  8.送子娘娘  9.痘麻娘娘  10.文書  11.超脫  12.申文  13.文書童子  14.靈牌  15.桃源洞