The long-expected birth of a boy to the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William — through a natural birth procedure — is a good opportunity to ponder the high number of Caesarean births (C-sections) practiced in China.
The situation has reached epidemic proportions, and some of its serious consequences should make Chinese women think twice before requesting this procedure. Today, China has one of the highest rates of C-sections in the world, estimated at 46 percent in 2007.
There are several cases of the use of this technique in ancient history. Luzhong, a sixth-generation descendant of the Yellow Emperor, had six sons, all born by "cutting open the body." Jilian, the sixth son, founded the House of Mi that ruled the State of Chu.