The Embroidered Couch: An Erotic Novel of China

By Lü Tiancheng

A book that is guaranteed to raise eyebrows, The Embroidered Couch is the first English translation of an erotic novel originally published in the early 17th century, attributed to Lu Tiancheng (b. 1580), a well-known playwright of the Ming dynasty. Regarded as a notorious classic in Chinese literature, it has long been banned in China, and never been available in English until now; shockingly explicit even by today's standards, it details the travails of a romantic scholar named Easterngate, who encourages and is aroused by a relationship that unfolds between his pretty and demure wife Jin and his compadre (and occasional sex partner) Dali. The story that follows is one of betrayal, lust, and revenge, played out against the extraordinary backdrop of 17th century China. The book includes an introduction by translator Lenny Hu, which provides revealing historical and cultural context.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551521016
• ISBN13: 9781551521015
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Chinese spice

This remarkable classic of Chinese literature dates back to the late Ming era, just over 400 years ago. Don't expect a proper Confucian allegory, though. This brief novel contains vivid descriptions of sexual play as explicit as anything on the bookshelves today. It centers on Easterngate and his wife, Jin. After a tragic earlier marriage, Easterngate devotes himself to ensuring her physical pleasure in every way he can. So, when Jin sees Dali and falls for him, Easterngate arranges for her to take her pleasure with him. Since Dali has been Easterngate's catamite for many years, Easterngate can assure Jin of Dali's manly endowments and erotic eagerness. Jin tests that eagerness, riding herself so raw on him that she offers him rear entry so he can continue. Then, in the second chapter, Dali's widowed mother enters the mix and creates chances for loving between women as well as threesomes of various kinds, with many more vignettes than space allows. Then, in the last few pages, Heaven's retribution smites the sinners - a hasty afterthought to allow this to pass as a moralistic fable. Despite this book's age, the goings-on have a wholly modern feel to them, encompassing a wide range of adult activities. Although modern and readable, the translation seems never wholly to settle into one style. Its literary voice alternates with earthy crudities, but never fuses them into a single style. Still, this translation offers a unique look at another era and culture, and reminds modern readers that people are the same everywhere. Times and tastes change, but the human animal's urges and outlets do not. -- wiredweird

Just Normal Chinese History !

A delightful peek into life in the Late Ming Dynasty; almost anything went, or came. This is a book for serious research, joyful pleasure and good old-fashioned fun for everybody. Mature -- really mature -- themes, so it is not a gift for anyone until you have read it yourself. Guilty pleasures no more ... read this today.