Final answer:
The refusal of Lijun's mother-in-law to allow visitors before the full moon celebration is rooted in traditional Chinese postpartum practices aimed at protecting the health of both mother and baby by limiting exposure to outsiders and potential impurities during the first month.
Step-by-step explanation:
The full moon day, also known as the infant's one-month celebration, is a significant tradition in Chinese culture. It is a time when the family presents the newborn to friends and extended family, symbolizing the baby's formal introduction into the world. The tradition involves several rituals and beliefs, one of which is the concept of pollution avoidance, which pertains to a newborn and the mother being in a state of pollution due to the birth.Until the full month celebration, contact with outsiders is often limited to prevent exposure to potential harm or impurities, preserving the health of the mother and child during their recovery and adjustment period.
This confinement period known as 'doing the month' or zuoyuezi, is still widely practiced in China and involves various postpartum practices to ensure that the mother's health is restored.