The Carnal Prayer Mat
University of Hawaii Press
In the 300 years since its initial publication, Li Yu’s book has been widely read in China, where it is recognized as a benchmark of erotic literature and currently enjoys the distinction of being a banned-in-Beijing classic.
What separates Li Yu’s novel from [Fanny Hill or Justine], however, is its humor: it is one of the funniest books ever written.
One of the great classics of Chinese erotica, The Carnal Prayer Mat certainly gets pretty raunchy in places. It stands out not for this, however, but for its brilliant comedy and satire; it could be read as a sparklingly witty light novel even by those without an interest in erotica.
This strange and delightful book, one of the most vivid texts on the shelf of Chinese erotica, shows Chinese society in a state of undress. Patrick Hanan’s translation is illuminating, fluent, and exhaustive—not only scholarly but sexy.
