支付还是契约?农村彩礼支付实践的类型化研究

Payment or Contract?A Typological Study on the Practice of Bride Price Payment in Rural Areas

本文构建“支付-契约”的双重分析框架,对中国农村地区彩礼支付实践展开类型化研究。研究发现:彩礼为“财”又为“礼”。前者体现为彩礼的支付属性,是婚姻市场彩礼“定价”的外显机制,代表婚姻竞争的激烈程度。彩礼的支付属性越强,对婚姻规则的冲击越大。后者体现为彩礼的契约属性,代表婚姻实践中的社会规范与婚姻合意,体现婚姻缔结的秩序。彩礼的契约属性越强,对婚姻缔结的积极作用越明显。彩礼的支付属性和契约属性并非排他关系,而是存在不同的组合。根据多地田野调查和“支付-契约”双重分析框架,本文概括出四种彩礼支付实践的类型:弱支付-弱契约、强支付-弱契约、强支付-强契约、弱支付-强契约。不同彩礼支付实践类型塑造了不同的婚姻形态。因此,治理高价彩礼现象要根据具体情况差异化推进。

This paper presents a typological study on the practice of bride price payment in rural areas of China,using a dual analytical framework of"payment-contract".The study finds that the bride price serves as both a"property"and a"gif".The former represents the payment attribute,which is the explicit mechanism of the"pricing"of the bride price in the marriage market,indicating the fierce competition in marriage.The stronger the payment attribute is,the greater the influence of the bride price on the rules of marriage is.The latter represents the contract attribute of the bride price,which embodies the social norms and marriage agreement in the practice of marriage and reflects the order of marriage contracting.The positive effect of the bride price on the conclusion of marriage becomes more obvious with a stronger contract attribute.The payment attribute and contract attribute of the bride price are not exclusive,but can generate different combinations.Based on the multi-site field study and the dual analytical framework of"payment-contract",this paper outlines four types of bride price payment:"weak payment-weak contract"type,"strong payment-weak contract"type,"strong payment-strong contract"type,and"weak payment-strong contract" type.These different types of bride price payment can shape different marriage patterns.Therefore,the govermance of high-priced bride price should be promoted with differentiations according to the specific situation.