Passions of the Cut Sleeve: The Male Homosexual Tradition in China

"Hinsch's careful study belies the official Chinese notion that homosexuality is a recent import from the decadent West. Using literary, ethnographic and historical sources, he demonstrates that male homosexuality was relatively open and tolerated through most of China's dynasties... This revealing study fills a major gap" 一Publishers Weekly.

"We must thank Hinsch for his bold introduction to a subject some in the China filed would still prefer to remain tabu" 一Charlotte Furth, Journal of Asian Studies.

"This study sheds light on an important aspect of Chinese social history about which virtually nothing has been written previously, and does so with sensitivity, good sense, and grace. It opens entirely new vistas on the history of sexuality. Readers will learn new and unexpected things not only about Chinese history and homosexuality, but about human nature itself" 一John Boswell, Yale University.

"An original, pioneering study... It has obvious importance for students of China, social history and sexuality but despite its scholarly approach is readable enough, with enough fascinating detail to hold the attention of the general reader" 一San Francisco Sentinel.

Bret Hinsch is a Ph.D. in history and East Asian languages at Harvard University who is currently conducting research in Taiwan.