| Power of Skirts | |
In a field in the Liangshan Mountain, two groups of young
men from the Chinese Yizu nationality armed with spears,
sticks and bows are on the verge of a violent fight.
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman dressed in a skirt edged with
lace comes between them. The sharp spears almost touches
her body, but she remains calm and shakes her skirt as if
she is signaling the men. The fighters are all astonished
by the sudden scene. They stop forwarding and slowly lower
their arms, watching the waving of the skirt. After a
moment's silence, the heads of both sides order to withdraw.
Who is that woman? Is she a powerful authority from a village?
No! She is only an ordinary woman. The fact is that one group
of the young men are from her husband's village and the other
from her own. According to the customs of Yizu in that area,
if an armed fight ever happens between two villages, no man
from either village dare go to the border by risking being
kidnapped or killed. Women, however, are exceptional. As usual,
they can work in fields along the border or visit relatives and
friends in the opposite village without being endangered.
If another war should happen, any woman from the related
village mediates in it by standing between the fighting parties.
Her action is usually respected. If either of the two sides
ignores her advice, she will put off her skirt and stands naked
before them until she commits suicide for the sake of honor.
If such an event does happen, the side who sticks to the war
will be condemned and more people will join the war. As large
scale wars are discouraged, the brave woman's advice is often
favored by the fighters.
Written by our column writer Martin Ye.
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