By Yuejia Zhu
To read the full article, please click here.
Abstract
Originating during China’s Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucian orthodoxy left an ideological legacy in ancient Chinese dynasties that significantly shaped a hetero-patriarchal social and familial order.1 A prominent stereotype of this social structure is the presumption that ancient China adhered to a family-based conception of sexuality, predominantly promoting reproductionoriented sexual practice while marginalizing non-productive sexual behaviors. Nevertheless, historical records, legal documents, and literary works suggest that male homosexuality took root in China as early as the Zhou Dynasty, reached its peak in the Han Dynasty, and left behind a homosexual tradition that continued down to the end of the imperial era. Throughout these historical periods, male homosexuality played a crucial role in shaping politics, challenging prevailing sexual norms, and enriching the realm of literary creations.
To continue reading, please click here.
