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There are three kinds of marriage
patterns among Mosuo people: Traditional Axia / Azhu System (Visiting
marriage), Axia Cohabitation and Monogamy. Yuan (2000)[1]:
“Typical marriage is uncommon among the Mosuo: They favor a visiting
relationship between lovers. Around the age of 12, a girl is given a
coming-of-age ceremony, and, following puberty, she is allowed to receive
male visitors, who may stay overnight in her room but will return in the
morning to their own mother's home and their primary duties”. The lovers are
called "Female Azhu" and "male Azhu". Usually
"Axia" has a special "Azhu" house to meet her lover. Her
lover usually visits her during nighttime and leaves in the early morning. He
is said to leave his shoes outside of the gate of the "Azhu House"
to indicate that no other man should come.
Janssen,
D. F., Growing Up Sexually. Volume
I. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed.
2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology
Last
revised: Sept 2004
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