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.
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