Shanghai Prostitute—Prostitution and Sex in 19th-20th Century China

Author: An Keqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The spread and rampant nature of sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS, have made prostitution and prostitutes a serious social problem, drawing high attention from the world. As a result, numerous research and survey works on sexology have emerged. However, how prostitution and prostitutes were handled in Chinese history remains lack of in-depth research. Existing Chinese works on this topic are either sensational or critical, leaving much to be desired. Yet, Western scholars, with their extraordinary theoretical courage and solid academic expertise, have conducted research on the history of Chinese prostitution and sexology, which they are not familiar with. An Keqiang, the author of this book, is one of them. He has collected a vast amount of Chinese and Western newspapers, archival materials, and writings to comprehensively and systematically explore the phenomenon of prostitution and prostitutes in modern Shanghai. Starting with an analysis of the activity spaces and living conditions of high-end prostitutes, he conducts an in-depth examination of the prostitution market, brothels, and the sex economy that emerged in modern Shanghai, recreating the glamorous yet tragic lives of old Shanghai prostitutes and the various criminal activities hidden behind this life of wine, women, and song. At the end, the book also provides a detailed analysis and elaboration on the failures of successive Shanghai governments in regulating prostitution and the rescue efforts by civilian organizations for prostitutes at the time. The book is rich in content, engaging, with smooth and fluent translation, and is accompanied by many vivid illustrations, making it a highly readable and accessible research work for both scholars and general readers. The "Shanghai History Studies Translation Series" selects classic works by top overseas scholars on modern Shanghai history, combining readability and academic rigor, and translated by domestic experts. Overseas scholars offer unique perspectives, unique materials, and original insights, providing a fresh interpretation of Shanghai's history, covering a wide range of topics such as the Taotai (governor), police, prostitutes, industrialists, overseas Chinese, hometown associations, fire brigades, and people from northern Jiangsu. This is a specialized research work on the history of Chinese prostitution and sexology. The author of the book demonstrates extraordinary theoretical courage and solid academic expertise, collecting a vast amount of Chinese and Western newspapers, archival materials, and writings to comprehensively and systematically explore the phenomenon of prostitution and prostitutes in modern Shanghai. Starting with an analysis of the activity spaces and living conditions of high-end prostitutes, he conducts an in-depth examination of the prostitution market, brothels, and the sex economy that emerged in modern Shanghai, recreating the glamorous yet tragic lives of old Shanghai prostitutes and the various criminal activities hidden behind this life of wine, women, and song. At the end, the book also provides a detailed analysis and elaboration on the failures of successive Shanghai governments in regulating prostitution and the rescue efforts by civilian organizations for prostitutes at the time.