Ancient China LGBT history in China

homosexuality has been documented in china since ancient times. intrigues of warring states, collection of political advice , stories before han dynasty, refers duke xian of jin (reigned 676–651 bce) planting handsome young man in rival s court in order influence other ruler , give him bad advice. historian han fei recorded more exalted example in relationship of mi zixia (彌子瑕) , duke ling of wei (衛靈公). mizi xia s sharing of delicious peach lover referenced later writers yútáo, or leftover peach . example of homosexuality @ highest level of society warring states period story of lord long yang , king of wei.

scholar pan guangdan (潘光旦) came conclusion many emperors in han dynasty had 1 or more male sex partners. many recorded in detailed biographies in memoirs of historian sima qian , records of han ban gu. grand historian sima qian notes that, unlike female wives , concubines, male companions of emperors admired administrative abilities sexual abilities:

the last of these emperors overlapped chronologically 1 of first fourteen roman emperors held bisexual or exclusively homosexual historian edward gibbon. han emperor devoted male companion emperor ai, nature...did not care women , , attempted pass throne on lover, dongxian (董賢). story of emperor ai struck later writers, however, when emperor cut off sleeve, not awake dongxian, had fallen asleep on top of it. cut sleeve imitated many people @ court , became known duànxiù, or breaking sleeve . phrase linked earlier story of mizi xia s bitten peach create formulaic expression yútáo duànxiù (余桃断袖) refer homosexuality in general.

throughout written chinese history, role of women given little positive emphasis, relationships between women being rare. 1 mention ying shao, lived 140 206, relate palace women attaching husband , wife, relationship called dui shi. noted, intensely jealous of each other.

it should noted except in unusual cases, such emperor ai, men named homosexual relationships in official histories appear have had active heterosexual lives well. is, in fact, impossible know full sexuality of historical figures of chinese history, unless indicated bisexual, since affairs considered out of ordinary documented. neither heterosexuality nor homosexuality considered out of ordinary of history, fact 1 of 2 documented cannot rule out other.

the cases of huo guang, served regent of western han, , general liang ji, dominated government of han china in 150 s, typical of bisexuals homosexuality not have been mentioned had not been seen unusual in way. huo guang infatuated slave master, feng zidu, fact provoked laughter in wineshops of foreigners , didn t have effect on own countrymen. did surprise them when huo guang s widow took slave master after husband s death. 2 lower-status individuals, 1 woman , 1 servant, dishonor master s memory in way considered shocking, , relationship made note of.

similarly, general liang ji, typical in having both wife, sun shou, , male slave, qin gong, acknowledged publicly status similar concubine. in specific case, relationship made histories because liang ji showed exceptional devotion wife, sharing slave qin gong in ménage à trois. not liang ji s bisexuality considered noteworthy, rather fact let 2 of lower-ranking lovers enjoy each other instead of demanding each concentrate solely on him.

two notable scholars, ruan ji , ji kang, unique egalitarian, long-term partners in 3rd century. members of anti-establishment 7 sages of bamboo grove, , relationship reflected group s vaunting of mystical, rustic, , simple life on corruption, hierarchy, , intrigue @ court. according lady han, wife of sage of bamboo grove, shan tao, spied on 2 in bedroom, sexually talented.

writings liu song dynasty claimed homosexuality common heterosexuality in late 3rd century:

one of earliest mentions of actor-prostitutes become common later in chinese history jin dynasty.

poems written , future emperor jianwen of liang highlight luxurious degrading role of male prostitute @ time.

the aristocratic poet yu xin representative of more subtle system of patronage existed without stigma of prostitution, whereby poorer or younger man provide sexual service more established man in return political advancement. yu xin opened home , provided standing reference younger wang shao, repaid him serving sort of butler , sex provider. wang shao went on become official censor.

with rise of tang dynasty, china became increasingly influenced sexual mores of foreigners western , central asia, , female companions began accumulate political power accumulated male companions @ imperial court. @ same time, actual power of imperial court in decline relative intermediate rule scholar-bureaucrats. first negative term homosexuality in chinese- jijian , connoting illicit sexuality- appears @ time.

the following song dynasty last dynasty include chapter on male companions emperors in official documents. in addition central asian influence, song dynasty saw first widespread adoption of indian buddhism, derided sexuality in general. increasing urbanization caused monetization of kinds of sexuality, , first law against male prostitutes, never enforced, went effect.

after song dynasty, homosexual behavior documented amongst gentry , merchant classes, since these people doing of writing. practically officials of class maintained wife or wives produce heirs, , used economic advantage engage in relationships, heterosexual , homosexual, gave them unequal power. documentation focuses on male courtesans or singing boys in luxurious decadent surroundings must take on female role please wealthy patrons intent on maintaining role masculine partner in agreement.

according bret hinsch in book passions of cut sleeve: male homosexual tradition in china, zhengde emperor of ming dynasty had homosexual relationship muslim leader hami, named sayyid husain, whom served overseer in hami during ming turpan border wars. in addition having relationships men, zhengde emperor had many relationships women. sought daughters of many of officials. other muslim in court, central asian called yu yung, sent uighur women dancers emperor s quarters sexual purposes. emperor appears fond of exotic women border areas such mongols , uighur.

still, chinese homosexuals did not experience persecution compare experienced homosexuals in christian europe during middle ages, , in areas, same sex love particularly appreciated. there stereotype in late ming dynasty province of fujian place homosexuality prominent, xie zhaozhe (1567–1624) wrote jiangnan , zhejiang beijing , shanxi, there none not know of fondness. european jesuit missionaries such matteo ricci took note of deemed unnatural perversions , distressed on open , public nature. historian timothy brook writes abhorrence of sexual norms went both ways, since celibate jesuits rich food sexual speculation among chinese.

although province of fujian not alone in open homosexuality in 17th century, site of unique system of male marriages, attested scholar-bureaucrat shen defu , writer li yu, , mythologized in folk tale, leveret spirit. older man in union play masculine role qixiong or adoptive older brother , paying bride price family of younger man- said virgins fetched higher prices- became qidi, or adoptive younger brother . li yu described ceremony, not skip 3 cups of tea or 6 wedding rituals- proper marriage formal wedding. qidi moved household of qixiong, dependent on him, treated son-in-law qixiongs parents, , possibly raise children adopted qixiong. these marriages last long 20 years before both men expected marry women in order procreate.

a more individual example of marriage-like relationship between men formed scholar-bureaucrat bi yuan 畢沅 (1730–1797) , suzhou actor li guiguan. 2 men exchanged vows of fidelity, , li guiguan retired stage addressed acquaintances bi s wife. unlike fujian marriages, unique relationship in locality, so still remembered 200 years later, when inspired novel precious mirror of ranking flowers chen sen.

another example of high status of homosexuality in fujian province, not shared centralized chinese government time, recorded qing official zhu gui (1731–1807), grain tax circuit intendant of fujian in 1765. intending standardize morality of people under jurisdiction, promulgated prohibition of licentious cults . 1 cult found particularly troublesome cult of hu tianbao. reports,

the image of 2 men embracing 1 another; face of 1 hoary age, other tender , pale. [their temple] commonly called small official temple. debauched , shameless rascals on seeing youths or young men desire have illicit intercourse them pray assistance plaster idol. make plans entice , obtain objects of desire. known secret assistance of hu tianbao. afterwards smear idol s mouth pork intestine , sugar in thanks.

the qing dynasty instituted first law against consensual, non-monetized homosexuality in china. has been construed may have been part of attempt limit personal expression outside government-monitored relationships, coming in response social chaos @ end of ming dynasty. punishment, included month in prison , 100 heavy blows, lightest punishment existed in qing legal system.

the homosexual tradition in china largely censured antiquated self-strengthening movement, when homophobia imported china along western science , philosophy, interest in past remained. in year 1944, scholar sun cizhou (孫次周) published work stating 1 of famous ancient chinese poets, qu yuan, lover of king. sun cited poetry of qu yuan (屈原) prove claim. in qu yuan s important work li sao (sorrow of parting), qu yuan called himself beautiful man (or woman, 美人 pinyin: měirén). word used describe king used @ time women characterize lovers.