Exploring Censorship and Sexuality in Contemporary China
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In 2018, a Chinese novelist known as “Tianyi” received a 10-year prison sentence for authoring and distributing a homoerotic novel. This harsh punishment ignited a significant conversation across China regarding the nature of pornography, a topic that has long been considered taboo in the nation.
The police characterized Tianyi's work, “Occupy,” as portraying “obscene sexual behavior between males.” However, her supporters defended it as a sensitive and accurate portrayal of a troubled same-sex relationship, praising her literary skills while condemning the severe sentence, especially in light of other serious crimes occurring daily in China.
The discourse among the Chinese-speaking public centered on whether the creation of erotic literature should be legally sanctioned. Many argued that a novel does not elicit the same shock as explicit pornographic films. Moreover, the production of erotic content has historical roots in China, dating back centuries. Some intriguing illustrations from the Qing Dynasty provide evidence of this tradition:
The conversation further evolved to question the legality of homosexual erotica. The Communist Party has historically labeled homosexuality as “disgraceful” and “undesirable,” leading to severe persecution during the Cultural Revolution and an era of invisibility under Chairman Mao's rule.
What about historical artworks that depict such themes?
One notable 19th-century painting reveals two young men, partially clothed in Ming Dynasty attire, engaged in sexual activity. The older man sits on a decorative carpet while his younger counterpart straddles him, revealing intimate acts that could resemble scenes from contemporary gay pornography.
Denying the existence of homosexuality within Chinese culture, based solely on Chairman Mao's disapproval, overlooks substantial historical evidence. Ancient Chinese society displayed a surprising degree of openness towards various sexual practices, including same-sex relationships, albeit within specific contexts.
Sexuality in Ancient China
Investigating China's history reveals that the current taboo surrounding sexual subjects results largely from a dominant patriarchal system. Confucian philosophy reinforced male authority, relegating women to subordinate roles as homemakers and childbearers, particularly among the affluent.
In historical contexts, a wealthy man typically had one legal wife but could also possess multiple concubines, often purchased as secondary spouses with fewer rights. In contrast, women were expected to be wholly devoted to one partner throughout their lives.
As a result, fidelity was paramount for women, with virginity viewed as essential for marriage. Consequently, any sexual exploration that might tempt young women was strictly prohibited. Men, however, faced no such restrictions, as they were considered the dominant figures in society. Notably, homosexuality was not criminalized in China until the 16th century.
Historically, Chinese men enjoyed freedoms similar to those of their counterparts in Ancient Greece and Rome, engaging in sexual relations without the restrictions faced by women, whose roles revolved around motherhood.
Ancient Pornography
China's history of erotic art spans centuries, though unlike today, such works were not intended for mass consumption. Instead, erotic literature and art were primarily commissioned by wealthy men for private use, often serving as sexual education for young males.
These works frequently reflected a male perspective, focusing on male experiences. For example, one painting depicts a young man engaging in a threesome with both his wife and concubine, highlighting the fetishization of women's bound feet—a painful practice aimed at achieving small, delicate feet deemed attractive.
Another painting from earlier times shows a naked man with three women, two of whom have bound feet, while the third has normal-sized feet.
A particularly intriguing piece illustrates a scene that could easily fit into modern bisexual pornography, featuring one woman and two men engaged in sexual activity.
Sex in China Today
China's laws surrounding indecency are more extensive and defined compared to many other nations. Many of these regulat