Abstract: Previous studies on the shifts of Chinese marriage and procreation culture did not reveal the essential characteristics of various cultures or the deep-seated socio-economic background. Based on the examination of mainstream societal values, this study reveals that in traditional Chinese society, people's marriage and procreation behaviors were deeply influenced by Familism. This dominant familism marriage and procreation culture adores “perpetuating the family line”, “early and abundant childbirth” and “more children bring more blessings”. With the establishment and development of socialist market economy, Materialistic values have spread in contemporary China. Materialism is gradually replacing Familism, becoming the new dominant force in marriage and procreation culture. Materialism culture of marriage and procreation, at its core, is a culture of low fertility. It exerts influence on individuals' attitudes and behaviors related to marriage and procreation through a series of intermediate factors, resulting in attitudes of “unwillingness to have children” “daring not to give births” and “inability to have children”. To achieve a moderate fertility level, it is necessary to weaken the influence of Materialism and shape a healthy society that is characterized by individual autonomy and a sense of community.

Keywords: Marriage and Procreation Culture, Familism Marriage and Procreation Culture, Materialism Marriage and Procreation Culture

摘要： 以往有关中国婚育文化变迁的研究,对不同类型婚育文化的本质特征及其深层次社会经济背景讨论不足。通过对社会主流价值观的考察,研究发现,在传统中国社会,人们的婚育行为受到家族主义价值观的深刻影响,以“传宗接代”“早生多生”“多子多福”为核心思想的家族主义婚育文化居于主导地位。伴随着社会主义市场经济的建立和发展,物质主义价值观在当下中国社会蔓延,物质主义逐渐取代家族主义,成为婚育文化的新的主导力量。物质主义婚育文化本质上是低生育文化,它通过一系列中介因素作用于个体的婚育观念和婚育行为,导致民众“不想生”“不敢生”“不能生”。适度提高生育水平,需要弱化物质主义价值观的影响,形塑一个既有个人自主性又有社群向心力的健康社会。

关键词: 婚育文化, 家族主义婚育文化, 物质主义婚育文化