Research On The Birth Customs Of Uyghur Women

Given its wide range of content and its complex cultural background, birth customs have been studied as an important part of every nation's folklore. Though there have been some brief studies about Uyghur birth customs, there has never been a professional study of this term. Therefore, using firsthand materials obtained from field research, I have written about Uyghur women's birth customs, particularly those in Hotan. This dissertation is composed of five main parts, including a preface and summary.In the preface, I explain the choice of theme, the significance of studying this theme, domestic and international scholarship, research methods, the field site, and the content of the research.The second part is mainly about customs regarding infertile women and the types of customs, as well as their cultural background, change and development. The third part presents some views about pregnancy among women in Hotan, including taboos, special customs, traditional education and how these have changed and developed. The fourth part is concerned with other traditional customs, such as taboos during birth, caring for the mother and baby after childbirth, naming rituals, and the cultural history of these customs. The fifth part it is a brief look at the influence of Shamanism and Islam on the birth customs of Uyghur women. It also explains some views about midwives and their social functions; in addition, it is concerned with women's religious views on birth customs, as well as the changes and developments in their perspectives.