Carnal Knowledge of China

Chinas relationship with sex has long been tumultuous and uneasy—from the awkward， icy， conjugal obligation of times past to the hot， sweaty， passionate mess of modern day. As such， sex is an ever-evolving characteristic of the modern Middle Kingdom， raising questions about the past and future of Chinas sexual revolution. Uncomfortable issues about gender， politics， and the law are part and parcel of conversations about sex， and China is no exception. With a history and culture mired in conservatism， issues of sexuality and gender are often forced into moral imperatives. With that in mind， we here at The World of Chinese have done our level best to bring you some of the most engaging and pressing issues of modern sexuality in China.

“Sex and Law in China” （see page 28） takes a look at how the Criminal Law of China has bled over into peoples sex lives. From group sex to prostitution， the vague legalities of sex in China can lead to handcuffs—and not in a good way. While China has seen its society change beyond recognition， the nations laws regarding sex have remained stagnant， clumsily lumped in with societal hooliganism and morality. But， more and more Chinese people are wondering what business the local authorities really have in the bedrooms of the nation.

Carlos Ottery has his eyes fi rmly set on the “T” of the LGBT community. Gender roles are rigidly fi xed in China， and this signifi cant section of Chinas population are looking for a voice， a way to break down the barriers of a culture that have held them back for decades. Being ostracized is part of being transgender in China； the stories of discrimination， fear， and loss are all too familiar， but the transgender population is getting bolder—right alongside those who just want to be left alone. Is China ready for change？ See for yourself in “Crossing the Gender Lines” （see page 36）.

Prostitution has ugly connotations today—seedy backrooms， drugs， disease. But this was not always the case. Once upon a time， the prostitutes of China were some of the most educated， talented， and refi ned women in the country. Sometimes they played the muse， sometimes the poet. Check out“Prostitutes and Poets” （see page 46） for a historical look at the objects of so many poets affections. Internet pornography is illegal in China， very illegal. Nevertheless， this banned online world thrives and provides a unique look at the tastes and temptations of Chinas modern， online kink. The countrys censors fi ght an ever-growing tome of online porn—images， videos， and stories that evade the censors axe. Thus far， porn-watchers have remained one step ahead of those hoping to clean up the web； the censors lack of success itself tells a compelling story about a uniquely erotic China. Check out more in “ChinaPornWars.com” （see page 42）.

You can also learn a little about terms and slang for sexual preferences in China in this issues Street Talk （see page 11）， and if all this talk about sex has taken its toll， head over to Made in China（see page 18） to learn how to “sit the month”. If mystery is what youre craving， check out our new whodunit in Dragons Digest （see page 12） by Zhou Haohui， or， if youre just feeling adventurous， head on over to The Edge （see page 70） most unlikely scuba diving at the Great Wall.

By many standards， China can be a conservative place， but at this current rate of transformation， China could be on its way to leading a whole new sexual revolution. So， keep a level head and enjoy the forbidden fruits of our labor.

Managing Editor

Tyler Roney