Traditional views Homosexuality in China

a woman spying on pair of male lovers

the political ideologies, philosophies, , religions of ancient china regarded homosexual relationships normal facet of life, , in cases, promoted homosexual relationships exemplary. ming dynasty literature, such bian er chai (弁而釵/弁而钗), portrays homosexual relationships between men enjoyable relationships. writings liu song dynasty claimed homosexuality common heterosexuality in late 3rd century:

all gentlemen , officials esteemed it. men in realm followed fashion extent husbands , wives estranged. resentful unmarried women became jealous.

confucianism, being social , political philosophy, focused little on sexuality, whether homosexual or heterosexual. however, ideology did emphasize male friendships, , louis crompton has argued closeness of master-disciple bond fostered may have subtly facilitated homosexuality . although taoist alchemy regarded heterosexual sex, without ejaculation, way of maintaining male s life essence , homosexual intercourse seen neutral , because act has no detrimental or beneficial effect on person s life essence.

in similar way buddhism, taoist schools sought throughout history define sexual misconduct. precept against sexual misconduct sex outside marriage. married spouses (夫婦) in chinese suggest male female, though scripture not explicitly against same-gender relations. many sorts of precepts mentioned in 7 slips of cloudy satchel (雲笈七籤), mini daoist canon, not against same-gender relations, maintaining neutrality.

opposition homosexuality in china rose in medieval tang dynasty, being attributed writers influence of christian , islamic values, did not become established until late qing dynasty , republic of china. there exists dispute among sinologists when negative views of homosexual relationships became prevalent among general chinese population, scholars arguing common time of ming dynasty, established in 14th century, , others arguing anti-gay attitudes became entrenched during westernization efforts of late qing dynasty , republic of china in 19th , 20th centuries. although rejection of homosexuality originating in tang dynasty might suggest indian influences, given fact hindu , buddhist literature disapproved of homosexuality.

the earliest law against homosexual act dates song dynasty, punishing young males act prostitutes. first statute banning homosexual intercourse enacted in jiajing era of ming dynasty.

lu tongyin, author of misogyny, cultural nihilism & oppositional politics: contemporary chinese experimental fiction, said clear-cut dichotomy between heterosexuality , homosexuality did not exist in traditional china.