13th Congress of the International Society for Folk Narrative Research

Presentation Abstracts

WU, Cuncun

Moral Edification or Sexual Exploitation?: an analysis of didactic censoriousness in late Ming popular erotic fiction

The later years of the Ming dynasty, particularly from the Wanli through to the Chongzhen reign period (1573-1644), were important years in the development and circulation of Chinese erotic fiction. This paper discusses the evolution of new forms of erotic narrative structure in relation to borrowing made from folk traditions at the time. One important feature of this literature is the combination of obscene description with moral didacticism, developing a written narrative form that reflected storytelling traditions. By examining the relationship of morally didactic statements to the structure of the erotic narratives into which they are inserted we are able to expose a number of important thematic and stylistic developments present in late Ming popular literature and cultural history. This paper will trace the development of this new didactic tradition in relation to story-telling traditions then current in China. In particular, it will focus on the following three issues: firstly, as erotic writing evolves from more timid depictions of sexual relations to completely unrestrained interest in sexual indulgence there is evidence that the moralistic commentary and parentheses also undergo transformation; secondly, at the same time, under a veil of karmic notions drawn from popular traditions (as opposed to orthodox Buddhist theories), the idea that sexual indulgence brings health and longevity to males gains increasing prominence and sanctification; and finally, public discourse surrounding sexuality, both in society and literature, becomes increasingly phallocentric as male libertinism flourishes. Under the atmosphere of sexual libertinism that developed in this period the fate women suffer in these stories is manifestly more cruel than that suffered by male characters.