“Sexual life in ancient China” by Robert van Gulik
Part 7: Ming dynasty and the end of Spiritual sexuality ?
Even if mentalities have changed a little among young Chinese, there is still a certain discretion, reservations about talking about the subject. And so much the better. In the West, the subject goes beyond the private sphere and sprawls back and forth in all the media … But where would come from what we wrongly call taboos, and which are cultural codes that are simply different from ours? A long time ago, but the book remains a benchmark, a great lover of China, great novelist and essayist, Robert van Gulik, tackled the complex question of the history of sexuality in China. Here is the 7th and final part of the presentation of this essential book : the contradictions between taoist sexuality and erotism before the prudish Qing era.
Restoration of Confucianism in the customs
Zhu Yuan Zhan, a great general who became the first emperor of the Ming, came from a humble background. decided to base the new power on a new (neo) Confucianist penal code, the Da Ming Lü, which was completed in 1397 and incorporated certain elements of the old Tang code. At the administrative level he took over elements of the Han dynasty.
At the level of male-female relationships, these new rules established a strict order of separation of the genders in society. An ideal image of the “prude” and “submissive” woman will soon emerge. The women are isolated, their feet bandaged, forced to follow strict moral rules. Divorce becomes a shame for them. The husband had a great power of repudiation over his wife, although there were exceptions to protect her in the event of a problem, for example, if during the marriage the husband had enriched himself thanks to her.
At the spiritual level, men remained faithful to Confucianism mixed with Taoism; women took refuge in Buddhism, which was more open to commiseration, to universal love, to equality. They worshiped the goddess Guan Yin, patron saint of defenseless beings and childless women, in particular.
Isolated in their apartments, rich women could only receive Buddhist nuns privately or retreat to Buddhist temples.
But, influenced by Confucian officials who wrote highly critical novels on the subject, Buddhist nuns had a bad reputation. It was said that they were women who hid their debauchery behind appearances of spirituality. Of course, some monasteries hid strange creatures and their intrigues, but was it a majority? Confucianists were still jealous of the power of Buddhist priests during the Mongol era. So weren’t they very objective?
In the privacy of the bedroom, on one side, it seems that husband and wife continued to read Taoist sexuality textbooks together; on the other hand, it seems that these textbooks were out of fashion … officially. The government no longer included them in the lists of officially recognized books.
Van Gulik will therefore read several books or rare documents to try to find elements clarifying this question: did couples still follow the old teachings on Yin Yang energetic sexuality and the best conditions for reproduction?
Memory of a “good father”
The first document is touching. It belongs to the “Instructions for family management”, private or sometimes published writings. Precisely, alongside the orthodox advice of a general or a senior official, there was also the more pragmatic advice of a large landowner, for example. Who indulge in practical advice on the management of wives and concubines, and this, for younger men who are going to marry.
We see then that the famous treatises (we saw this in the previous articles) of the genre “Bedroom Art” still had to be read to ensure the satisfaction of women and to harmonize relations between them. Unfortunately, in the event of hysteria and exaggerated arguments, these women could also be beaten with canes on their legs or buttocks …
But, fortunately, this “article” was the only one that treated women in this way. The psychological balance, the health of the body, despite the monotonous life of women at home, were matters taken very seriously.
Alongside these “domestic” documents, there were still manuals on sexuality, but in limited numbers. They were “tolerated”, nothing more. It is true that after the Ming they will be totally censored by the Qing! It should be noted that these textbooks which have become illegal will sometimes be kept in Japan and annotated.
Limited continuity of “manuals”
What’s new in these Ming manuals? (van Gulik always repeat himself, so let’s summarize)
They are often composed of ancient texts glued together with the classic presentation of the dialogue of Emperor Huang Di and the Daughter of Candeur (Su nu). The usual advice on ‘storing semen’, etc., is dealt with in a square fashion, without details. Nothing about the Taoist alchemy of sex, for example.
But curiously modern questions are treated there like the size of the sexual organs or the sapphism (certainly for the energy reinforcement of the men!).
The list of plants symbolizing the sex of the woman seems fixed at this time: peach, melon, peony, lotus …
Sun Zi’s strategy in the bedroom?
Van Gulik nevertheless finds traces of a book, kept abroad, dealing with the famous Taoist theories of “vampirization” of the energy of the opposite sex. The famous man-woman “battles” in their lovemaking.
Looks like the war strategy theories of the great Sun Zi. , “To spare your strength while using that of the adversary”. Two, “start by giving in to him before surprising him then”.
The Taoist follower of this technique thinks he is the “general” and the woman is the “enemy” to be defeated.
But beware, current women would be delighted to learn that these techniques have also been used by women “against” men (to absorb their Yang energy). We will see it. But in a 3rd manual, van Gulik also reads gender equality in the sense that “water and fire” must enrich each other in a “complete union”. The woman seeks Yang in the man to balance her Yin, and vice versa.
Ming novels: between moral and vulgar eroticism?
The sexual theories of the Taoist followers become more and more secret during the 2nd part of the reign of the Ming dynasty. Confucian officials monitored any editing or loan.
The Chinese novels of this period, those which spoke of love, of power in everyday life, also seem very little affected by the “spiritualistic” sexuality of the old textbooks.
Of course, how can we not talk about the sulphurous novel “Jin Ping Mei”? But beware, even here it is not “pornography”.
Like other erotic novels of the period, a long introduction explained the dangers of a life of debauchery, a life dedicated to sex and money. This kind of novel was almost “moral” novels because they described things in a crude way to disgust sensitive souls.
So, sexuality is treated in a direct, boorish way, with a fairly slang vocabulary.
Jin Ping Mei takes place “during the Huizong period”, therefore “Song”, but it is a staging because the sociology there is indeed that of the society at the time of the Ming. The book would have been released in 1610.
We spare you (…) the scenes of the “amorous” adventures of the hero Xi Men Qing, but know that his dissolute life as a rich pharmacist who loves women ends very badly; just like that of his wife, accomplice of the most terrible vices and who “ruined his house”, Golden Lotus!
Everything is done to advise against abuse of all kinds. This novel speaks of “upstarts without culture”, far from the followers of a cosmic sexuality.
Few people know that a sequel to this novel was written later, by another author, ‘”Ge Lian Hua Ying.” This novel describes the fate of people after the death of Xi Men Qing. Virtuous will be saved from this nightmare.
But van Gulik still defends the idea that Xi Men Qing was never really bad with his wives. At the very least he would have fled all violence and sadism.
Finally, a novel, that of Li Yu, shows the almost Christian (but therefore also Buddhist) idea of a redemption after the sins of the flesh.
The title is mind-blowing: “Rou Pu Tuan”. Or “The Zen cushion of the flesh” (1657)! Yes, the cushion on which the followers of the purest Chinese Buddhism sit, the “chan”, to meditate. The purpose of the book is squarely: “Light of Zen after ordinary lights” …
The story is that of a young couple. The man Wei Yang Cheng is quite a fiery nature. After much trouble, he manages to marry the daughter of a wealthy man of letters. The woman, Parfum de Jade, was very well educated, except at the level of “things of the world”.
It is precisely with the help of one of those famous “sexuality manuals” that van Gulik has been telling us about for 350 pages (!) That Wei will attempt to initiate the Way of the body. Parfum de Jade first is shocked by these “heresies”. Then, this illustrated manual with explanatory paintings captivates her. She quickly becomes “immodest”. The man, on the other hand, collecting sensual adventures becomes desperate and ends up in a temple to save his soul. He becomes a “devout Buddhist” and a great priest teaches him this truth “You had to go through the salvation of the cushions of flesh to finally find your Light”.
Afterwards, van Gulik describes to us the literate, « cool” and bohemian culture of the “Jiang Nan”, the regions under the “Yang Tse Kiang”, in short, the school of Nanking (Nan Jing), the first capital of the Ming.
We know the strange taste of van Gulik for the stories of courtesans and “public girls”. Let us therefore stop only 3 lines on the stories of “foxes”. Yes, the “sexual vampirism” of female animal spirits turned “maiden” to satisfy their need for Yang strength. These stories are surprisingly modern. Almost “feminists”!
Unfortunately, in other works the Taoist discipline of sex is seen backwards and serves as inspiration for sheer pleasure. Decadence.
Gender equality and the continuity of Chinese civilization
Readers may wonder after these 7 parts dedicated to sexuality, the concrete relationship with Chinese culture.
You have understood the depth of cosmic sexuality.
Not all of these articles were the catalog of human perversions.
Especially since the conclusion of Robert van Gulik, this immense Dutch writer and diplomat, is very beautiful. Philosophical.
After all that the Chinese have gone through in their 5,000-year history, invasions, humiliations, but also victories for sure, what has held this superior civilization together for so long? You will answer me Chinese language. Yes of course. From the tortoise shells of divination to the finest philosophical and literary works, including the invention of the printing press.
But above all, van Gulik tells us:
« …Those who speak of a static Chinese civilization are right insofar as the qualifier applies to principles, History seems to justify this very high assurance. Other civilizations have perished; that one remains. Other races have disappeared, dispersed, lost their political identity. We must study the deep factors, political, economic, in the spirit that it is not given to us to penetrate the reasons as well racial as political (…)
So what is the principle ?
Van Gulik : « The Chinese look at life with the gaze of a man who intends to live in harmony with the original forces »
« Sexual life in ancient China last of the growth and decline of civilizations, not more than the life and death of individuals. In the case of China, we can ask ourselves what the permanence of this race and this culture is due : the Chinese have carefully maintained the balance of the masculine and feminine elements, and this can be seen by study from the beginning of our era. It may indeed seem that from this balance was born the intense vital force which, from antiquity to these days in which we are living, has always maintained and renewed the Chinese race ».
