In this fascinating and up-to-date book, the author surveys the ancient assumptions about sexual practices and ideas in China, and then examines present day China with brief descriptions of homosexuality, lesbianism, transvestism, transsexualism, and prostitution. The history of various areas of sexological interest are covered, including sexual philosophy, classical sexological literature, Taoist sexual myths and techniques, erotic fiction, and the political regulation of sexual rights.
1 Introduction.- 2 The Harmony of Yin and Yang: Chinese Sexual Philosophy.- 3 “Inside the Bedchamber”: Classical Chinese Sexology.- 4 Sexual Techniques of the Taoists: Myths and Methods.- 5 Prostitution in Chinese Society: From Acceptance to Persecution.- 6 Classical Chinese Erotica: Then and Now.- 7 Homosexuality: From Golden Age to Dark Age.- 8 Transvestism and Transsexualism.- 9 Changing Attitudes toward Sex in China Today.- Notes on Romanization.- References with Selected Annotations.
'This is a handsome book with a very good index ... The collation and editing are excellent ...' Transcultural Psychiatry, 36:2 (1999)