Hua theorizes that twin human desire—for possession of a loved one and for diversity of sexual partners—tend to be at odds. When a society favors the former, monogamy becomes standard (even legislated) practice; when it favors the latter, a Na-style institution of "the visit" may evolve.
Despite the fascinating content, the book is a methodical anthropological study, and thus heavy going at times. Hua systematically describes geography, land ownership, and social stratification patterns, and spends a lot of time on "marriage" practices of Na leaders due to wealth and property concerns (not to mention the tragicomic results of legal and economic pressures exerted by Han emperors and then Communist administrators to impose monogamy and nuclear family patterns on the Na).
One longs to hear more Na voices, to read more stories of their ways. Notes and bibliography are extensive, but a glossary of Han, Na, and anthropological terms seems incomplete. It will be exciting to see what other social scientists and researchers make of this landmark study, and whether anthropologists will detect signs of similar practices elsewhere in the world or our past.
Even if they don't, Hua writes:
From now on, marriage can no longer be considered the only possible institutionalized mode of sexual behavior. Without marriage, a society can maintain itself perfectly well and function as well as any other.Edited: PC
Article comments
1 - DrPat
Great first post, David! Welcome!
The matrilineal society was also a common choice in Amerind cultures, and has been used as a backdrop for numerous science fiction novels. (Tepper's Raising the Stones comes to mind.)
I congratulate you for digging your way through this book, which by all accounts (see the reviews on the Amazon site) is "dry, clinical and exhaustive" and intended for the specialist.
Bravo!
2 - Bog B L
That's a real different perspective. But it is primitive, like the author said only 'diversity of sexual partners' is all what you get. Nature gave humans the neo-cortex, so that we can blend emotion and reason. Also dolphins are monogamous and they don't mind. If we can do Na style below 30 years it would be a woderful compromise to this crapy society.
3 - Danny
I read this book and found it very informative and inspiring to say the least. It would seem to me that the Na have a superior system of family structuring and community. It's been around roughtly 3000 years or longer. That's more than I can say for our own Judeo-Christian marriage based societies here in the west.