Li Yu (author)

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This is a Chinese name; the family name is 李 (Li).

Li Yu (李漁) (1610 - 1680), or Li Liweng (李笠翁), was born in the Jiangsu province of China in 1610. He is the presumed author of The Carnal Prayer Mat (肉蒲團), a well crafted comedy and a classic of Chinese erotic literature. He also wrote a book of short stories called Twelve Towers (Shi er lou; 十二楼). In his time he was widely read, and appreciated for his daringly innovative subject matter.

In this work he broaches the topic of same-sex love in the tale House of Gathered Refinements (Cuiya Lou; 萃雅楼). This is a theme which he revisits in the collection Silent Operas (Wusheng Xi Xiaoshuo; 无声戏). In that collection, the story (approximately titled) A male Mencius' mother educates his son and moves house three times (Nan Mengmu Jiaohe Sanqian) presents a view of the Fujianese homosexual customs, presented here as nanfeng, a play on words signifying both male custom (an euphemism for male love) and southern wind, a metaphor for the province of Fujian in the south of China, noted for the popularity of same-sex relationships.

Li Yu was an actor, producer, and director who traveled with his own troupe. His play Fengzheng Wu (风筝误) remains a favourite of the Chinese Kun opera stage. He died in 1680.

[edit] Translations

Tower for the Summer Heat, Li Yu; Translation, preface, and notes by Patrick Hanan, Columbia University Press,1998 ISBN 0-231-11384-6. Contains: A Tower for the Summer Heat (夏宜楼), Return-to-Right Hall (Return-to-Right Hall); House of Gathered Refinements (萃雅楼); The Cloud-Scraper (拂云楼); Homing Crane Lodge (鹤归楼); Nativity Room (生我楼)
Li Yu: Twelve Towers: Short Stories, Tr. Mao, Nathan K. Hong Kong Chinese University Press. 1979 ISBN 962-201-170-5
THE CARNAL PRAYER MAT, Li Yu (translated by Patrick Hanan), University of Hawaii Press 1996 ISBN 0-8248-1798-2
Li Yü: Roman aus der Ming-Zeit, Franz Kuhn, Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag Frankfurt 1986 ISBN 3-596-22451-9
Tower for the Summer Heat, Li Yu; Translation, preface, and notes by Patrick Hanan, Columbia University Press, 1998 ISBN 0-231-11384-6.
Li Yu: Twelve Towers: Short Stories, Tr. Mao, Nathan K. Hong Kong Chinese University Press. 1979 ISBN 962-201-170-5
Les carnets secrets de Li Yu, un art du bonheur en Chine, PHILIPPE PICQUIER, Edité par Jacques Dars, 2004 ISBN 2-87730-664-X
Li Yu: À mari jaloux, femme fidèle, by Pascale Frey 1998
Patrick Hanan: The Invention of Li Yu. Harvard edition 1988, ISBN 0-674-46425-7
LI‑YU Jeou-P'ou-T'ouan, la chair comme tapis de prière, translated by Pierre Klossowski; Éditions Jean-Jacques Pauvert, Paris, 1979

[edit] Critique

Andrea Stocken: Das Ästhetikkonzept des Li Yu (1610 –1680) im Xianqing ouji im Zusammenhang von Leben und Werk. 2005 ISBN 3-447-05120-5
HENRY, Eric:Chinese Amusement - The Lively Plays of Li Yü.Archon Books Hamden, CT 1980
Воскресенский Д.Н. Ли Юй. Полуночник Вэйян или подстилка из плоти. (пер. с кит., предисл., коммент.) М., Гудьял-Пресс
Воскресенский Д.Н. Ли Юй. Двенадцать башен (повести XVII в.). (пер. с кит., предисл., коммент.) М., Гудьял-Пресс