Chinese Erotica

by Alka Pande

When China developed a courtesan culture in the tenth century, its erotic art found a ready canvas. Its goal was to improve the health and longevity of the male Seven hundred years later, during the rule of the Ming dynasty, the art reached its golden age. Classical erotica came to the fore in an elegant fashion, with the artist often painstakingly detailing the setting instead of concentrating solely on the action. This book delves into this world, characterising it through selected pictures.

Hardcover

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Alka Pande trained as an art historian and has written prolifically on Indology and Art History. She is the author of several books with a special interest in gender and sexuality; her PhD thesis was on the theme of Ardhanarisvara. She has written extensively on erotic Indian Literature and art as well. She was awarded the Chevalier dans l ordre des Art et des Lettres in 2006 by the French government. In 2009, she received the Australian Asia Council Special Award. Alka Pande is an independent curator and is currently working as an art consultant for India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. She lives in New Delhi with her husband and daughter.