Ancient Chinese culture is known for its special attitude towards physicality, eroticism and sex: numerous engravings that have survived to this day depict a variety of scenes of interaction between the ancient Chinese and their partners. However, sexual practices in ancient Chinese civilization were designed to bring not only physical and aesthetic pleasure, but also spiritual benefits, internal enrichment and healing.

This book contains the greatest erotic treatises of Ancient China, collected and translated by the famous Russian orientalist Alexei Maslov. Using rare ancient Chinese texts as an example, the book examines the special role of sexual practices in everyday and spiritual life, their role in the broader context of culture, politics and religion, as well as their ability to heal the body, maintain longevity and even serve as an aid in achieving enlightenment.

The book offers a succinct introduction to the topic of Chinese erotology, as well as a commentary on each of the treatises translated into Russian for the first time.