China folk custom beats women to boost fertility, with dire consequences for not conceiving

An uncivilised folk custom in ancient China known as Pai Xi, or “Beating for Joy”, involved striking women with sticks in an attempt to exorcise evil spirits and pray for conception. Pai Xi, also known as Da Sheng, meaning “Beating for Birth”, is believed to have originated in southern China, particularly in Jiangsu and Fujian provinces. It was a fertility ritual that gained popularity during the Song dynasty (960–1279). According to the Records of National Customs of China, in rural areas of...