Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★☆☆ (3.6/5)
Genre: Sexuality, Eastern Philosophy, Cultural Studies, History

Book Review :
The Yin-Yang: The Chinese Way of Love is a fascinating and detailed exploration of the sexual customs, beliefs, and practices of ancient and traditional China. The authors, Charles Humana and Wang Wu, argue that unlike in many Western societies, the Chinese viewed sex as one of the highest forms of human activity, to be pursued with joy, vigor, and good humor, free from guilt and shame. The book draws on a wealth of sources, including modern translations of ancient ''forbidden books'' that were considered too intimate and private for outsiders. These texts, which rival the Kama Sutra in their detailed approach to the ''bedchamber arts,'' are presented with a poetic and sophisticated sensibility unique to Chinese civilization. Readers will find descriptions of sexual postures, extracts from racy Sung and Ming dynasty novels, and anecdotes about the love lives of emperors with their consorts and concubines. It is a rich, revealing, and occasionally humorous look at a vital but often hidden aspect of Chinese culture.