A LITTLE HISTORY OF SEX IN ASIA (FOR BL LOVERS)




The contemporary BL phenomenon keeps spreading across the board. This is thanks to the easily accessible variety of media (graphic novels, web anime, traditional novels, music, cinema and TV/web series) which support it. We are witnessing the constant rising of a powerful world-wide trend which signals an increasing open-mindedness towards non-binary roles, alongside the emergence of a freer female psychology. The popularity of the  BL genre (Boys' Love, a pretty label standing for male-gay themes specifically catering for the female audience) is a well documented example of this phenomenon. 




The Boys' Love genre, as it is known today, was born in Japan as a sub-genre of 1980's Yaoi manga, which depicted straightforward homoerotic relationships between young boys. Given its popularity amongst the female readership, other sub-genres quickly sprang up, some focusing on the more romantic side of young and innocent school-boy relationships, some distinguishing themselves according to the age of the male protagonists, the degree of sexual content, and so on. 

During the decades, the classic seme and uke characters have became obsolete stereotypes. Their narrative follows too closely the heterosexual cliché, where the older stronger male seduces and overpowers the weaker, passive effeminate younger boy. An example of this kind of unbalanced homoerotic relationship can be seen in the iconic and quite explicit Japanese live-action series Takumi-Kun (2009/2010). 





Incidentally, here the uke was played by exquisitely gorgeous teenage Kyousuke Hamao, who literally exploded into international stardom because of this part (see video below). Female fans became so obsessed with him that huge venues had to be hired for meet-and-greet encounters. Young Hamao struggled with the overwhelming female interest he was receiving and eventually left a lucrative career in early 2014, seeking an anonymous life in the USA. He was very much an exception though: the bishonen (an extremely beautiful, androgynous-looking boy, appealing to all genders) is and remains the golden standard for all contemporary popular culture, from anime to idol-populated pop music (which I won't delve in here). 




Curiously, all of the above took place in an obsessively conservative country that officially kept (and by large still keeps) homosexuality well under wraps... Anyway, from Japan the phenomenon spread quickly to Korea, where it flourished into the lucrative genres of K-drama and K-pop, two interdependent industries catering happily for their female fandom. Idols show themselves flirting with same-sex  colleagues, choreographing the idyllic scenarios the fangirls want to see. Ironically, coming out as gay still seems to be a problem even in South Korea: pop star Holland (pictured below), received such an amount of cyberbullying when he came out to seriously consider suicide...




Soon the whole of Asia picked up on the success of the BL drama genre in particular, with Thailand and the Philippines becoming major producers, despite the actual lack of LGBTQ+ rights in everyday life. Mainland China has ventured into the BL world quite recently, but with surprisingly massive success: web novels and manhua based on Chinese ancient tradition and history are extremely popular, while we all know about the global success of live-action drama series such as The Untamed, Guardian, and, right now, Word of Honor.




To summarise, today BL has become a larger international umbrella for cartoons, fan fiction, anime and web-dramas portraying romantic/physical love stories between beautiful boys aimed specifically at a female audience that doesn't seem to have enough of them. But why do us girls (of all ages and nationalities) dig this genre so much?... Only recently has the wild success of the BL phenomenon begun to be analysed seriously. 




The fact is, in Asia male/male relationships have been part of ancient literary traditions which absolutely reflected real-life costumes. It makes therefore sense for this subject (which - let's be honest - has always made women very curious) to be explored and revitalised through the ages. But what about the "fandemic" success of the BL genre amongst women of the Western and Islamic world, where homosexuality has historically been treated as a capital sin? Is it part and parcel of the ongoing process of reclaiming a new female identity (or, better still, non-identity) that is finally disengaging from the heterosexual patriarchal discourse that has shaped our psychology and social lives for countless generations? 




We are certainly assisting at a psychological and factual shift in the way we all live our collective rediscovery of the true nature of sexuality and gender. Exploring beneath the ageing (in fact crumbling) sociopolitical and religious norms which have long formed our consensual knowledge can be done in many ways, some of which are more superficial than others. We are certainly talking about a complex subject that goes right to the core of what it means to be human, and it should be observed from all angles. So let's take a very quick look at the attitude towards sex in the Western world, then begin a virtual sex tour across East Asia, starting from the country that gave us modern BL, Japan, then moving onto China.






SEX AND HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE WEST


In the USA, UK and the rest of Europe (beacons of open-mindedness and freedom) being homosexual was seen, until quite recently, as something "unnatural" (see my other post here for an insight on GBLTQ+ in Western cinema and popular culture). In fact it carried a huge social stigma due to a mix of religious bigotry and lack of serious scientific studies on the matter. Just imagine: up until 1967, even in Great Britain, a country often regarded as extremely tolerant (well, at least until recently that is, cough-cough), male homosexuality was a crime punishable with long prison sentences or, as an alternative, chemical castration! Female homosexuality wasn't even contemplated: in a male-dominated society, women HAD to fancy men alone, right?... 




Of course there were periods in Western history when homosexuality was tolerated, mainly within the elite artistic circles and the high society: for example in the Italian Renaissance or the French court under the Louis XIV. Yet it still remained against the law for religious reasons alone. This strictly binary world-view was implemented through relentless coercive methods by Christianity. Before the spread of this new Middle-Eastern religion, the pagan world had no issue with homosexuality, in fact in some of the most illuminated ancient cultures, like the Greek one (hence later amongst the Romans too), it was perfectly fine to fall in love with a person of the same sex. Back then, humans lived happily as bisexual, if not pansexual, beings. After all, as a renown anthropologist says, man would even fuck trees, if it were in any way practical! 




Asian culture seems to have followed a similar path, but with some notable differences. Like Christianity (where a woman, in order to be worthy and respected, had to be pure, untouched and possibly able to procreate without sexual intercourse!), the new religion which spread like wildfire throughout Asia from northern India, Buddhism, was also a faith where the existence of women was deemed as totally marginal if not distasteful. According to any form of Buddhism, we had no access to self-realisation until we would reincarnate into a male, once or several times over... So, in Asia too, the spreading of a brand-new religion decided the fate of billions of women throughout the centuries, relegating us to the roles of pious mothers, slaves and pleasure providers. In Asia though homosexuality was not made illegal and/or repressed until Western costumes were adopted, from the end of the XIX century onwards. In the face of a Christian Empire which was never truly successful at conquering the vast Asian honeypot of riches (boy if it tried!), gay relationships in the Orient kept thriving through the different eras, with their high and lows. 





SEX IN JAPAN


The history of sex and male homosexuality in Japan are quite striking. Largely unscathed by Christian morality, old Japan never had any issues with sex per se. The first few Westerners who had a close look into its feudal martial society, not only did witness the costume amongst the ruling samurai cast to sexually pursue pre-pubescent and adolescent wakashū (beautiful 11-25 year old boys, who were actually considered to be a third gender), but also a total lack of "moral standards" with regards to whom, or indeed what, a man or woman could perform sexual acts with. 

Shintoism didn't have an issue with homosexuality, but the introduction of Buddhism via the more developed kingdoms of today's Korea and the Chinese Empire changed things, yet not in the way one may think... Buddhism ended up actively encouraging homosexuality in the peculiar Japanese society. Having intimate relations with women was deemed as something utterly disgusting (menstrual periods made us dirty and impure, a devilish sign of spiritual inferiority!), therefore there existed a concept called nanshoku, where elder monks would openly have a physical and psychological relationship with a pre-pubescent male apprentice. This costume was eventually glorified as a necessary path to become enlightened. Samurai aristocrats were naturally good Buddhist observants, and happily followed suit. Not only did they have their own pages/apprentices to train and sexually enjoy, but they were sending their own sons to the monasteries to become bed-warmers to the monks busy searching for buddhahood. Such striving monks were enthusiastic and frequent visitors of brothels which offered both young girls and boys, skilled in poetry and instrument playing, but ultimately providing sexual services. It is not by chance that large brothels existed and thrived near the main temples across Japan. 




Japanese married couples enjoyed the freedom of having as many sexual partners ad they wished to, mainly because marriages were arranged for sociopolitical aims, therefore spouses actively looked for love outside the marriage. Enter the typically Japanese figure of the wakashū: a beautiful boy between the age of 10 and 25 max, (basically today's bishonen) identifiable by a long lock covering the shaven top of his head (a fetish which made men obsessed!) and very effeminate, colourful clothing and make-up. Wakashū were indeed enjoyed by both sexes, but they were mainly prey of older men. It was basically a fashion! These exquisite boys were not even supposed to enjoy the often rough, submissive intercourse with their pursuers (samurais, noblemen and, later, rich merchants), in fact they were supposed to show piety and kindness to the ugly ones! There existed a whole catalogue of rules about the way this relationship was to be conducted, which went alongside tons of pornography depicted on scrolls with graphic tips on how to successfully perform a "dry entry" (ouch!!) and so on... This costume thrived up until the end of the Edo era (1868). 




Since today sexually molesting children is illegal, and rightly so, I would like to point out the following. Once upon a time, the life-span of human beings was much shorter. As soon as a boy or a girl reached puberty, they were encouraged to marry. In Japan many samurais were thrown into battle as young as 15, and the rest of the world was no different. But what about pre-pubescent children, you will surely ask. Well, they were of course particularly beautiful, but they also were free of social and military duties, and... above all, healthy! Virginity has always been highly valued in the past, and the reason for it is perhaps more practical than one might presume. Sexually transmitted diseases were rampant! Personal hygiene was poor (although it has to be stressed that in Asia people more or less bathed every day, while in the West maybe once a year, if they were lucky!!) and active promiscuity in brothels, monasteries and military camps did not help. So of course an untouched girl or boy was unfortunately highly desirable.  




The following Meiji era saw a broad westernisation of Japanese costumes, which had an effect on the sexual sphere too. Wakashū boys disappeared and homosexuality became the new taboo. Well, in reality it still thrived, of course, new sex consumers being at large Western men. There existed large cafes packed with gorgeous boys working as entertainers (of course for sale too), who were very popular amongst foreigners, both male and female. There were smaller, secluded, kinkier gay cafes mainly for the locals. And also nocturnal locations, such as specific parks and public toilets (a quintessentially British costume until at least the mid-Eighties), as pick-up places. Famous Western and Japanese artists (novelists, film-makers, actors, dancers) were active part of this scene, such as the great author Mishima Yukio, who notoriously led a bisexual life (in the photo below with artist Tanadori Yokō).




(Click here for an interesting commentary on the author/actor/body-obesessed culturist/nostalgic samurai from a close British friend. Also here, Danilo Breschi's interview in Italian for a more detailed personal view on the complex personality of Mishima. Last but not least, for a fantastic insight on Tokyo's underground life, full of anecdotes on the gay scene between Post War and the Seventies, Ian Buruma's book "A Tokyo Romance" remains unbeatable.) 




On the other hand, geishas, the young female equivalent of the extinct wakashū, remained, their fascinating traditional attire attracting Western men and women like bees to honey. In order to establish a thriving business with the enthusiastic consumers of Asian erotism, in recent times the profile of the geisha enjoyed a complete make-over which made it acceptable to the taste of foreign audiences. Such public is often oblivious to the fact that the geisha represents a centuries-long, particularly ruthless kind of exploitation of underprivileged underage girls and women. Mention the word geisha to any self-aware Japanese woman and you will be surprised...




Today's Japan continues to have a complicated and somehow paradoxical stance on sexuality. Women's rights have only very recently been allowed to surface, while censorship and bans continue to be applied on specific sociopolitical issues: anachronistic rules of racial homologation still imposed by many schools, which force pupils to dye their hair black, and the ostracism and slander towards artists and journalists who don't see eye to eye with the government are just examples. On the other hand, safe heavens for the venting off of repressed sexuality (a byproduct of the highly regimented, suffocating rules in the spheres of both work and family) do exist in abundance. Shops and bars openly selling sex to satisfy all kinds of pleasures and perversions, from human flesh to kinky mechanic devices, are often on the curious tourist's agenda. 


 



(HOMO)SEXUALITY IN CHINA


Ancient China (and Corea) were far more advanced, refined and civilised than insular Japan, and there free sexuality saw periods of alternate fortunes, due to the influence of institutionalised religion but not only. Let's delve into the history of sex in the Chinese Empire, seen through the attitudes towards homosexuality in particular.

Through historical documents, we know that the Han Dynasty Emperors were either fully homosexual or bisexual, and that was considered the norm. Conversely, there are fewer accounts of lesbianism at court, but perhaps this is due to the fact that the life of harem concubines was not something to focus on. Something more note-worthy was definitely the tale of General Liao Ji, who allowed his two lovers, one male and one female, to enjoy each other sexually too, rather than claim exclusivity. This is one of the most interesting cases of a fair and successful threesome in history: they deserve an applause! 

Up until the Tang Dynasty, despite establishing increasingly closer ties with foreign cultures (Western Asia) disapproving on homosexuality, being bisexual was considered something completely normal. For example, a young male would often pursue a political career thanks to the sexual services provided to a mentor, something akin to the costumes of Japanese samurais with regards to their cherished apprentice-wakashū. After all the Han and Tang eras had a huge influence on many aspects of Japanese life.




During the Song dynasty Buddhism, which had arrived through the Silk Road during the Han Diansty, became firmly established: it was (and is) a religion which frowns upon sexuality, putting spiritual practices above anything else. For this reason the first laws against male prostitution were (very loosely) implemented. There are documents, though, which attest how male/male relationships were still widely practised, and particularly appreciated for their camaraderie. 




Incidentally, it is during the Song dynasty that the cruel practice of foot binding began to be inflicted on women of status, who already had a hard time with preserving chastity until they married someone they didn't love. Foot binding was a terrible reflection of the reinforcement, amplified by the misogyny of Buddhism, of a Confucian view which already saw women as inferior and less desirable within the social context ("Women and servants are hard to deal with", Confucius Analects 17.25). Perhaps the practice began as a cruel but effective form of submission to the father figure and the spouse, but it also turned out to be a sexual fetish. Feet deformation spread because it was promoted as desirable for women, since it would buy the family prestige through marriage, and it was desirable to men too, as they delighted in the smallness of the lotus feet. A clear reference to the love for child-like beauty, and also a strange perversion, since the strong smell of putrefying plagues mixed with essential oils seemed to turn on some men (just like the smell of blood and death on a battlefield).




After the Song Dynasty homosexuality is documented as having spread amongst the new rich merchant classes too. Written accounts tell the tale of some of them having married into noble families for prestige and obtaining heirs, but still lavished on beautiful male musicians dressed as women, who would provide them with all kinds of entertainment. (We can have a glimpse at such a musical group in drag in the cleverly fun drama "The Romance of Tiger and Rose", one of AvenueX's favourites of 2020).




It is particularly interesting the story of the XI Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng De, who ruled from 1505 to 1521. As a bisexual, he was particularly attracted to exotic women coming from non-Han ethnicities (such as Mongolians and Uyghur), but he also had a stormy relationship with the Muslim ruler of Hami. So, while in Europe homosexuality was persecuted with fire and iron by the Christians, in XVI century Cina it was still freely practised, causing fury amongst the Jesuits pushing hard for evangelisation and lucrative business. 




Perhaps just in order to maintain face in front of the appalled foreigners, the tradition of "adopting a son" (the younger lover) by an older man was widely practiced amongst the high society. "Father and son", in reality, slept together as "husband and wife". This is in fact the actual relationship between the Scorpion King and his corrupt "adopted father" (Word of Honor, source: AvenueX).

 




Furthermore, we have the XVI century account of a local tradition in use in the province of Fujian, where marriage amongst men was possible. The older man would assume the role of qixiong (elder brother) and pay a dowry to the family of the qidi (younger brother). The dowry would be especially high if the boy was still a virgin. After the marriage, according to contract, the couple would live together for a maximum of 20 years, after which they would both think of procreating by marrying young women too. The offsprings would be adopted by the male/male couple. This is a classic example of ancient Confucian ethics, which did not focus on the nature of sexuality per se, but indeed placed huge importance on having male children (the concept of filial piety involved a male child to look after his parents; also male kids were useful to keep the ranks of the troops replenished).




By the end of XVII century we learn about the beautiful love story between the powerful bureaucrat Bi Yuan and the famous opera actor / singer Li Guiguan, whom got happily married: Chen Sen's novel Precious Mirror of Ranking Flowers (Pin Hua Bao Jian), written in the Republican era, is dedicated to them. The original book belongs to a private collector. The extremely rare reprints go for extraordinarily high prices.




With the increased interference from the Western powers, things were rapidly changing. The new Manchu Qing Dynasty edicted a law against consensual homosexuality, which saw the culprits of male/male love punishable by a month in prison or 100 blows by a large wooden stick. Actually, these measures were considered to be quite lenient, nevertheless they were part of the general effort on behalf of the new rulers to re-establish societal order. The Chinese Empire's strength had been slowly but surely crumbling under the blows of endemic internal corruption and foreign malevolent actions. After the heavy defeats in the despicable Opium Wars, through which the British Empire pushed for the legalisation of opium in China (which they had been illegally exporting anyway, reducing the population into zombies), an agonising Chinese Empire finally imports from the colonialist West: science, medicine, philosophy, arms... and homophobia.

Well, this is what I have learnt so far through the years, but I have just begun reading a new interesting source of detailed info on the subject of sexuality in ancient China: "La Vita sessuale nell'antica Cina" by R.H. van Gulik (for the first time I'm approaching the subject in my mother tongue), so it's definitely a to be continued...


























Commenti

Post popolari in questo blog

Recensione di SENI E UOVA di Mieko Kawakami

KIMURA TAKUYA: La nascita dell'IDOL

MY FAVORITE DRAMAS OF 2020: IV PLACE