Fertility Practices of the Han Chinese

Fertility Practices of the Han Chinese

When a woman is pregnant, it is commonly called "having happiness" in Han Chinese.

The second day of a child's life is called "Sanchao". After the birth of the child, most of the eyes closed tightly, always to three Chao (i.e., three days) or three Chao later to open. According to the old custom, the child opened his eyes to look at his father first, and then look at his mother, and then look at other friends and relatives, to show that always filial piety to parents. At this time to visit relatives and friends often give eggs, brown sugar, children's clothing and other gifts to congratulate. One of the eggs dyed red, called "red eggs", because it is congratulations, so also known as "happy eggs".

Full moon, known as the "Mass Moon". The old custom to give the child to cut the fetal hair, commonly known as "shaved head", held a banquet to celebrate. Some places stipulate that the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar for the newborn's "shaved head" day. Modern Han Chinese children's full moon has been regarded as a common thing, but some places in the countryside is still relatively important, often to invite the full moon wine.

Weeks old, is the child from the birth of the most solemn day. Ancient custom, the day of the child's birthday to test its future. The method is to place the male bow and arrow paper and pen, female knife and ruler needle basket, as well as a variety of food, clothes on the table, let the child to take, take the one who is the future of the future of the past signs.

The modern Han Chinese children generally pay more attention to the age of one year, whether urban or rural, generally want to take pictures of the children to remember, and do new clothes, eat eggs and noodles to show congratulations. Some families with better economic conditions also do birthday wine, hospitality to relatives and friends. Jiangnan countryside there are packages of the custom of the week-old dumplings. This zongzi package than the general . The dumplings are longer than normal, implying that the child grows up quickly.

Ancient Han men to 20 years old, choose an auspicious day, honor guests, by the father in the clan temple to preside over the crown ceremony. The Rites of Passage - Crown Righteousness recorded: "Ancient crown ceremony divining the day to divine the guests, so honor the crown thing."

When a woman is 15 years old, she performs a maturity ceremony, "Rites of Passage" in the "maturity" of the commentary said: "maturity, the female rituals, as if the crown of the male also." Crowning and maturity rites indicate that a person has reached adulthood and can get married. Nearly, modern has long been not the implementation of these rituals, but only at the age of 20 years old is often more solemn celebration of the birthday, the economic conditions of the family held a birthday wine, banquets for relatives and friends; the general family should be slightly prepared food and wine, eat eggs and noodles, the family congratulations.