"Walking Marriages" of the Mosuo Tribe

Do you know what “walking marriages” are?

It’s a traditional custom practiced by members of the Mosuo Tribe in Southwest China.

Credits: Choo Waihong

Men and women don’t have to marry each other and can still be together for their entire lives. The Mosuo are a matriarchy, so the women are in charge of the house and inheritance goes from mother to daughter.

During the daytime, they express romantic interest through dancing and singing. After getting to know each other better, at night, the man will go to the women’s house to sleep, but then return to his own home when morning comes. They can also have kids together, if they choose.

This means that after a walking marriage happens, the man and woman still belong to their original families, and the only thing that binds them together is love and not the interference of their parents, social status, or money.

Members of the Mosuo tribe became adults at age 13 and can start participating in walking marriages. These marriages are founded on the basis of mutual understanding and affection between the man and woman. At night, the man will visit the women’s house and then return to his own in the morning. They can be together and have kids without ever needing to be legally married.

If the couple falls out of love, they can end the walking marriage and are free to find another partner instead.

However, it is not allowed for one person to engage in walking marriages with several people. If the couple has a good relationship, then the Mosuo will only do a walking marriage once in their lifetime and stay with their partner forever.

Couples rarely argue over finances, because the responsibility of caring for the children lies within the woman’s family. The uncle takes on the task of child upbringing, so usually, the children are closer to their uncle than to their dad. When the uncle grows old, his nieces and nephews will then take care of him.

What are your thoughts on the Mosuo way of life?