清江中下游土家踩生

On Tujia "Caisheng" In the Middle and Lower Reaches of Qingjiang River

踩生,又叫逢生、踏生,是流传于土家族地区的一种生育习俗。作者通过对清江中下游的巴东、长阳土家踩生的田野考查和分析研究,认为土家踩生是利用朕兆来占卜吉凶的奇特巫术,是土家族先民们在险恶的自然条件下,企图支配自然为人所用、相信人可以利用外在力量为自己造福的古老的巫术信仰和巫术活动的承传。踩生中 孤阴不生,独阳不长"、 柔弱胜刚强"的观念,表现出土家族强烈的生命意识及其与道家阴阳观、老庄哲学思想的一致性。

Caisheng' is a birth tradition of Tujia people.On the basis of field research in Badong county and Chang Yang Tujia Autonomous Prefecture in the middle and lower reaches of Qingjiang river,the author finds out that Tujia 'Caisheng' is a peculiar witchcraft of deciding good or bad luck.Under the worse natural conditions,Tujia people believe that they can control and make use of nature and the outside power.This belief indicates the strong life consciousness of Tujia people,and it is in accordance with Taoists'phylosophical ideas.