Classical Myths and Ancient Family Structure of the Naxi People
This article examines the Naxi people's classical mythology, mainly preserved in the Dongba scriptures, to reconstruct primitive family forms. It argues that Naxi myths such as "Chongbaitong" (Genesis) and "Yingdonggeshen" reflect a genuine "blood/consanguine family" stage—Engels' first stage of family development—in which siblings intermarried, evidenced by tales of five brothers and six sisters, and the ancestral couple Chongren Li'en and Chenhong Baobai. Unlike myths of many other ethnic groups, where sibling marriage occurs after a flood as a last resort to repopulate humanity (and is softened through reluctance motifs and divine signs), Naxi myths uniquely place the blood-family stage before the flood and directly blame incestuous marriage for causing the flood, reflecting later ethical condemnation projected backward. The author contrasts this frank, unembellished account with other groups' euphemistic narratives, including motifs of deformed offspring symbolizing disapproval of consanguineous marriage, concluding Naxi myth preserves greater historical authenticity while still bearing moralistic reinterpretation.
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