These sublime examples from the world's largest collection of Chinese erotic art offer a rare glimpse behind the curtains of censorship into a realm of aesthetic beauty, symbolism, and harmony. Erotic art figures prominently in China's artistic heritage, from the age of Confucius through the late nineteenth century. This sumptuous collection of more than one hundred color illustrations-many of them never before published-introduces readers to a variety of artistic evocations of love and sex. The authors trace the influence of religions and historical events on sexual practices, exploring differences in imagery, style, and technique. As intellectually compelling as it is fascinating, this volume is ornamented with verses that match the age and mood of each work of art, and is augmented with essays on the history of the art form and of the collection itself.