Su E Pian

Abstract

The Kinsey Institute in Bloomington, Inidiana, U.S.A. is a reserach institute on sex, gender and reproduction. Its library has the only complete edition of the Su E Pian, a Chinese erotic novel of late Ming Dynasty. This article examines the content and historical background of this Chinese erotic novel which also reflected the political and morality environment of the Ming Dynasty. The fact that Su E Pian was not a manuscript, but a prnted erotic novel shows the general acceptance of its form by the populace. The author also calls for further research of the Chinese collections at the Kinsey Institute.