“女左男右”是没文化吗?("Female Left Male Right"Is there no culture?)
“男左女右” 被视为中国的传统习俗,约定俗成,有时位置颠倒会遭来笑话。
其实,国内好多地方的洗手间并无男左女右之规,国际更是如此,机场的洗手间常常是女左男右。
在如今,无论是重大仪式、重要场合或是婚礼,男女的位置并不那么讲究了。但真要从文化的角度来认识,“女左男右”未必没有文化。
湿婆和帕瓦蒂,东方艺术国家博物馆[6]
那伽夫妻,印度布巴内斯瓦尔[7]
情侣,印度泰米尔纳德邦马哈巴利普兰的寺庙[8]
拜占庭皇帝君士坦丁九世和皇后佐伊向基督献礼,十一世纪,马赛克描绘[10]
亨利七世和伊丽莎白女王陛下铜像,威斯敏斯特修道院[12]
蒙古族的传统婚礼,中国网[14]
瑶族新郎新娘进行跪拜[16]
风情的水族婚礼[20]
中国直至商代仍处于神权社会,与世界文明同步。在人类历史的长河中,母系社会长达若干万年,而父系社会的确立,最长也只有四、五千年。在母系社会,无论是东方还是西方,都是尊“左”的。左为神,为母,女人通常位左。对偶婚产生后,“女左男右”的习俗形成。人类步入父系社会后,虽然有种种变革,但这种习俗依然存在。
曾有人指出,“男左女右”不是中国的传统习俗,而是封建礼教男尊女卑思想的产物。此言极是,“女左男右”才是来自远古的传统习俗。
[1] King Menkaura (Mycerinus) and queen,Egyptian,Old Kingdom, Dynasty
4, reign of Menkaura Valley Temple,2490–2472 B.C.Harvard University—Boston
Museum of Fine Arts Expedition,© 2018 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
[2] Prince Rahotep and his wife Sethtet,statues, ancient Egypt , the 4th
dynasty,from Rahotep’s tomb,Egyptian Museum, Cairo. By LiLei (China).
[3] Nefer-Hebef with his wife,1420-1400 BC, limestone statue. Egyptian
civilisation, Louvre Museum,Paris. By LiXianhui.
[5] Statue of Seated Couple, Basalt, Tell Halaf, Syro-Hittite, Early 9th Century BC.By Robert Alexander Boyle,Copyright © AAD 2018,Author Login.Ashurbunipal.
[6] Shiva and Parvati,The National Museum of Oriental Art,© 2016 All
Rights Reserved by Sutra Journal and Respective Authors.
[7] Naga y Nagini, Bhuvanesvar, India.Nagasya Nagini.
[9] Yaksha Gomedh with Ambika,sculpture,11th century,Maharaja
Chhatrasal Museum, Dhubela, Madhya Pradesh.By Sagar Das, Rosehub,From
wikipedia.
[10] XIth century mosaic portraying Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos
(1042-55) and Empress Zoe (1028-50),By LiLei (China).
[11] XIIth century mosaic portraying Emperor John Comnenus II (1118-43)
and Empress Irene,By LiLei (China).
[12] Henry VII and elizabeth Queen Consort ,bronze effigy,Westminster
Abbey.