Male Homosexuality in Traditional Chinese Literature

This paper is an attempt systematically and briefly to describe male homosexuality as it was recorded and depicted in traditional Chinese literature. Part one of the paper describes male homosexuality which has been detailed in historical records. Most of these records are taken from standard histories and indicate that homosexuality did exist in traditional Chinese society. Part two is a description of male homosexuality as it was depicted in classical literary writings, including a rarely seen fiction, Yi-Chun Xiang-Zhi (Pleasant Spring and Fragrant Character). Part three discusses reactions toward homosexuality as described in some of the historical records, fictions, and essays. Some of these descriptions involve sociological analysis while others are sexological in nature.