Rethinking Research on the Matrilineal Marriage and Family Structure of the Mosuo
This article by Zhao Xinyu reconsiders scholarship on the matrilineal marriage and family system of the Mosuo people around Lugu Lake in southwest China, whose surviving matrilineal households and culture exemplify the diversity of Chinese and human civilization. Amid rapid socioeconomic development, matrilineal households have declined sharply and become "hollowed out," making protective research urgent. The author traces historical records—from the earliest mention in the Huayang Guozhi to Marco Polo's account and Yuan-dynasty texts—arguing matrilineal culture likely predates its Yuan-era documentation and formed part of a broader historical "matrilineal cultural belt" between Sichuan and Yunnan, shaped by geography, environment, and ethnic origins. The coexistence of matrilineal, patrilineal, and bilateral families among the Mosuo reflects economic, political, and cultural factors, with bilateral families not representing a transitional stage. The author recommends comparative study with the Zhaba people's matrilineal culture in Daofu County, Sichuan, to better understand the regional cultural belt and the distinctiveness of Mosuo matrilineal society.
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