中国上古时期的“生子不举”

Baby Abandon Phenomenon in Ancient China

“生子不举”是中国古代社会的痼疾，上古以来一直存在。远古时期以幼童作为“奠基牲”，甲骨文中记载有“弗子”行为，夏商周很多部落首领和历史名人均曾遭弃。春秋以后可能被遗弃不养的婴儿，包括出生异常、生于禁忌日、女婴和其他被认为有妨于父母者。导致“生子不举”的原因，有原始宗教信仰和风俗习惯、妨于家族父母，以及经济压力等。时代越古，宗教信仰与风俗习惯所起作用越大，到战国末期后，经济压力逐渐上升为主因。

Abandoning babies had been a constant phenomenon in ancient china.Cases of abandoning infants were recorded in the Oracle documents.Many tribal leaders and historical figures were originally abandoned children.After the Spring and Autumn period,babies who were considered weird were likely be abandoned.It is likely that in the beginning,religious beliefs and folk custom were more relevant to this phenomenon,while after the Warring States period,the economic pressure started to become the main factor.