珠江三角洲"自梳女"兴起背景探析

自梳,又称梳起,是指女子自行异辫而髻、宣布独身不嫁的仪式,经过这种仪式的不婚女性被称为“自梳女”。这种风俗于19世纪中叶以后兴起于珠江三角洲地区,与该地特定的社会、经济背景密切相关。终生“不落夫家”婚俗的存在,是自梳女产生的历史根源;珠三角特有的桑基鱼塘的农业生产模式、女性特殊的经济角色,是自梳女兴起的经济背景;19世纪珠三角地区剧烈的社会变革,西方价值观念的传入,是自梳女兴起的社会、文化背景。

The Social and Economic Background of Rising of the Celibate Women in Pearl River Delta

Since the middle 19th century, more and more women in rural area of the Pearl River delta took part in the rite of celibacy and their vows were preceded by a hairdressing process, which earned them the title self-hairdressing women. The author analyzes the features of the area, such as the special custom by which married women didn't go down to their husbands' family, the changes of the Canton delta in 19th century, and the fish-mulberry economic culture and so on. The local economy and culture background encouraged the particular way of living in 19th century.