Carnal Prayer Mat

When it comes to Chinese literary classics in the erotica genre, a westerner is most likely to quote 金瓶梅 or Jin Ping Mei, The Plum in the Golden Vase or whatever other name it is referred to as there are quite a few English translated versions. There’s another almost of equal fame, that is 肉蒲团, or Carnal Prayer Mat, which is a pure delight to read. Li Yu, a Chinese playwright, novelist living in the late Ming and Early Qing dynasty(1610–1680 AD), is the presumed author. It is a well-crafted comedy and a classic of Chinese erotic piece of art. In describing the most vulgar of all human activities, sex, his humor would most likely make one laugh out loud. It’s like a Fanny Hill without vulgarity, a Shakespeare without the drama. Its morality is often hidden under, and only when you have reached the end, do you realize that the author is trying to educate, instead of indulge.