禁忌是人类普遍存在的一种观念习俗。古往今来,不论是先进民族、后进民族,或是处在迄今为止已有的何种社会发展阶段的民族,禁忌习俗几乎都在他们的社会生活中存在着,不同的只是程度差别罢了。就一般的规律来说,无论是禁忌的种类或内容,后进的民族总是多于先进民族,过去保留的禁忌总要比现在的禁忌多。这种规律正反映了一种趋向,即社会越发展,民族越进步,禁忌习俗也就越少,其对民族社会发展的影响力也就越微弱。 Taboo is a universal concept of mankind. Throughout the ages, taboos have existed in almost every aspect of their social life, whether they are advanced nationalities, backward nationalities or ethnic groups that have so far reached the stage of social development. The difference is only a matter of degree. As for the general law, no matter the type or content of taboos, the backward people always have more than the advanced people. The taboo retained in the past is always more taboo than the current ones. This law reflects a tendency that the more a society is developed, the more it is a nation, the fewer taboo conventions, and its weaker influence on the development of national society.