亲属称谓“公”“私”考

Textual Research of Relative Designations——Gong and Si

“公”“私”是两个出现较早的亲属称谓。祖父、父亲、夫之父、夫之兄均可称“公”,这与公有制下年长男子在父系氏族内部所处的领导地位有关,他们拥有安排和处理公共事务的权力。“私”是女子对姊妹之夫的称呼,源于建立在生产力水平低下的普那路亚婚制,反映了姊妹共夫、女子与姊妹之夫存在着合法的性关系的事实。透过二者,可以揭示古代的社会制度和婚姻制度的实质。

Both Gong and Si are earlier relative designations. Gong refers to grandfather, father, father- inlaw or husband＇s elder brother in archaic Chinese. The adult male occupies a leading position, having the power of making arrangements and dealing with public affairs in public ownership. Women call their sisters＇ husbands Si, which originates from Punalud martial system on the basis of the backward productivity, and indicates that sisters share one husband and their sisters＇ husbands have lawful sexual relationship with their sisters. Gong and Si reveal the essence of the ancient social system and martial system.