Sex in pre-modern China, and Chinese views on sexuality, have undergone dramatic changes. In early Chinese society, homosexual, polyamorous, and extra-marital relations were commonplace. When Taoist sexual practices came into play, men and women viewed intercourse as a means to enrich their spirit. Men used it as an outlet to maintain and focus their “jing,” or essential life energy.
What Sex Was Like in Pre-Modern China
In ancient China, sexuality was unrestricted and practiced fairly indiscriminately. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what sexual intercourse was like in ancient China culture, because it was so many things. This list explores the many facets of ancient Chinese sexuality, while providing some very strange facts about old Chinese dynasty times.
The people of Xinjiang, a remote region of northwest China, are not only responsible for creating the earliest form of erotic artwork, but also some of the most graphic smut in the ancient world. The carvings were discovered in the 1980s by Chinese archeologist Wang Binghua. Among other things, the 3,000-year-old petroglyphs depict a massive, bisexual orgy, complete with monkey masks and possible spectators.
Men Loaned Out Their Wives To Travelers
Accounts paint parts of northern China as much more hospitable than most ancient societies, to say the least. It was reportedly common practice for men to let travelers sleep with their wives. People believed that travelers were distinguished, and an evening with them would bring in new blood to the family and herald a better future. Husbands would set travelers up with a place to stay and ensure all their needs were met.Â
Emperors Had Complex Schedules To Manage Their Constant Sexcapades
Brothels Were Everyday Businesses And Sometimes Attracted Royalty
Emperor Sui Yang Used Wheelchairs To Trap Virgins
Emperor Sui Yang To (AD 581-618) used a customized wheelchair to ensnare teenage virgins in the optimal position for intercourse. It was called the “virgin wheelchair,” and when a young woman sat on it, clamps sprung up, holding her arms down and spreading her legs apart. Then a mechanized chair cushion tilted her up according to the emperor’s preference.
Sexual Education Involved Monkeys And Group Stuff
Erotic images painted on silk were gifted to newlywed couples as learning materials for their wedding night. Some of these “wedding tiles” date back to the Eastern Han period (AD 23-220) and didn’t exactly set the stage for a romantic evening between man and wife. Some depicted group action or partner swapping, pointing at a relaxed attitude towards monogamy.
Taoism Encouraged Men To Withhold Ejaculation
Taoists believed that losing too much “jing,” the essence of life, could result in illness or death. Since jing is basically the amount of life in a body, it would make sense that Taoists encouraged men to redirect the energy and experience of an orgasm to other parts of their body instead of ejaculating. Ancient Taoists believed that by keeping semen in the body, it would nourish their bodies and spirit.
Taoists Believed Sleeping With Virgins Lead To Immortality
According to legend, the first emperor of China, known as the Yellow Emperor, became immortal after sleeping with thousands of virgins. Itâs believed in Taoism that any man can gain immortality through intercourse. Taoist sexual texts ranked women into tiers based on how old they were, and teenagers were the most desirable for the amount of jing they could provide through doing it.
Homosexuality Was Practiced Openly By Men And Women
Homosexuality was neither uncommon nor condemned in ancient China. Same-gender coupling was especially popular during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Many emperors of the Han Dynasty were known to have at least a few men in their collection of sexual partners. Lesbian relationships were likely as common, but not as well documented as same-gender relationships between men.
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