中国蓄妾习俗反映的士大夫矛盾心态

The Gentry Classes' Ambivalence Embodied in Chinese Custom of Concubinage

在儒家看来,无论男女,纵欲都是罪过,对所谓"义夫"的尊崇,正说明士大夫阶层的正统观念。而夫权制必须保证男性单方面的性权利,蓄妾制便成为调和这一矛盾的妥协之举。妻妾共居使家庭矛盾重重,为解决这一矛盾,理学家述齐家之方,必首列严妻妾、分嫡庶一条,即以规定妾的奴才地位来换取妻及妻族的承认。士大夫一方面指责妇女的妒忌,将主动为丈夫纳妾的贤妻作为榜样,对妇女进行说教,但如果妻与妻族绝对不能容忍,丈夫仍有所顾忌,诉诸公堂时多以调解结案,也并未认定纳妾是理所当然的;另一方面往往扶妾抑妻,在事实上削弱妻的势力。家法族规中常见针对所谓"悍妒"之妻的条规,以为纳妾之男子撑腰,有的宗族甚至为纳妾提供物质资助。诸子平分的继承法使生子后的妾取得一定的经济地位,若妾生子为官更母以子贵,或因封赠在家族中获得尊崇,如其亲生后代繁盛,甚至会混淆妻妾的称呼。至清晚期,"宠妾虐妻"现象已引起宗族的不安。

According to Confucianism,licence is a sin both for men and women.Respect for the so-called ＂faithful husbands＂ demonstrates the orthodox thought of the gentry classes.However,patriarchy demands for men＇s sexual privilege,concubinage becomes a wayout for the dissolution of this conflict.The fact that a wife and concubines live under the same roof results in familial conflicts.Moral philosophers think that the solution to this problem is that first and foremost,wives and their offspring should be treated as superior to concubines and their offspring.That is to say,concubins must be degraded to servants to be recognized by the wife and her family.To brainwash their wives,men of the gentry classes often denounce their wives for their jealousy and meanwhile,set as an example those women who actively admit concubines for their wives to follow.However,if the wife and her family resolutely reject concubinage,the husband often has to take their opinion into consideration.If the case is brought to court,the judges often close it with mediation.More often than not,concubinage is not rationalized.In addition,men of the gentry classes often make use of their concubines to undermine the power of their wives.Clan and family regulations often stipulate the measures to punish ＂shrewd wives＂ as a means of supporting concubinage.Some clans even provide financial support for concubinage.According to the law of inheritance,each offspring should have his or her share of the familial property.To a certain degree,this gives concubines with offspring an economical position;If the male offspring borne by a conconbine becomes an government official,the concubine mother＇ s position will be greatly improved;If a concubine is greatly honored by being given a noble title or some property as a gift by the Emperor,or highly reproductive,she is even no longer addressed as a concubine.In the late Qing Dynasty,＂the petting of concubines and the maltreatment of wives＂ have made the clans upset.