What are the taboos in ancient people’s sexual intercourse and health preservation?

　　The taboo on sexual intercourse is an ancient taboo that has always existed from the totem era to the present day. Because it is directly related to the reproduction and survival of human beings and ethnic groups, it has always been valued by people. Chinese people are very secretive about sex, so taboos in this area are difficult to spread and collect. Many related customs are also limited to a certain community, or passed down within a very narrow range such as family or caste system, and are rarely known to outsiders.

　　1. Taboos on marriage and sexual intercourse

　　Sexual intercourse refers to sexual behavior and sexual life. Marriage is the legalization of sexual behavior and sexual life. So among the marriage taboos, any taboo on marriage between men and women actually contains the meaning of tabooing sexual relations between them. Therefore, the taboos on marriage mentioned above (including taboos on marriage within and outside the clan, the same surname, different surnames, cousins, different generations, class differences, etc.) and the taboos on marriage (including taboos on age of marriage, zodiac, family, etc.) are all sexual taboos. For example, in the marriage customs of the Wa people, there is a prohibition against marrying with the same surname, which actually means that sexual intercourse between people with the same surname is strictly prohibited. They think this is treason and will offend ghosts and gods. If someone violates this rule, the whole village and the whole family will be punished by ghosts and gods, and may suffer from drought or waterlogging. If any disaster occurs, they will often look for the cause here, suspecting that someone with the same surname had sex. According to "A Brief History of the Wa Nationality", "In the spring of 1957, there was a drought, and it was difficult for Yongguang Village in Ximeng to drink water. The leader of the village thought someone was committing incest, so he went around to scout. One night, he found Ai Xiang's adopted son having sex with someone with the same surname. So the leader beat the wooden drum. Immediately, many people ran into the village holding torches and long knives, blowing on the livestock while running (according to their custom, in this case, anyone's livestock can be chopped down, and the incest will eventually be compensated). Ai Xiang's adopted son was so frightened that he ran away. Ai Xiang quickly asked Moba to kill the chicken and become a ghost, to ask the ghosts and gods for forgiveness, and to compensate those who lost their livestock one by one." It can be seen that taboos on sexual behavior can be consistent with taboos on marriage.

　　Within the scope of allowed intermarriage, the Li people can participate in "released dormitories". According to Wu Cunhao's "Chinese Marriage Customs": "(Li nationality) men and women who participate in 'Liao' are mainly unmarried young people, but married women who have not married into their husband's family can also participate. Such women who have sex in "living in a dormitory" are generally not condemned by public opinion. Children born with other men are not only not made difficult and discriminated against by their husbands' families, but are instead welcomed. As for the widow's participation in "living in a dormitory", it is beyond reproach. However, the objects of 'letting one's home' into a foreign village must be within the same scope as the intermarriage, and it is strictly prohibited within the clan of the same blood. People of the same blood cannot intermarry, and they are not allowed to 'let one's home into a foreign country'. ”Here, the scope of intermarriage is almost equivalent to the scope of "letting one's home". Of course, this is not a common rule, and not all ethnic groups are like this. But on the other hand, it is helpful to understand the consistency of sexual taboos and marriage taboos.

　　Judging from the two examples listed above, sexual taboos and marriage taboos can be consistent. Where there is a taboo against intermarriage, there is also a taboo against sexual intercourse. This is especially evident in the group consciousness of marriage. This is directly related to the totem taboos and incest taboos of the primitive period. As for the taboos on premarital sex, it mainly refers to the taboos on sexual intercourse between men and women who are allowed to intermarry before marriage. It is mainly about the individual's body and spirit, and generally has no direct interest in the group. Of course, from a moral perspective, this taboo also reflects the intentions of the entire group. Because of the examples in this area, we have already talked about it a lot in the previous "Marriage Taboo", so we won't repeat it here.