Sex, Law, and Societyin Late Imperial China

Matthew H. Sommer

STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, STANFORD, CALIFORNIA

Contents

A Note on Conventions xvii

. i Introduction i

i A Vision of Sexual Order 30

3 The Evolution of Rape Law: Female Chastityand the Threat of the Outside Male 66

4 The Problem of the Penetrated Male:Qing Sodomy Legislation and theFixing of Male Gender 114

5 Widows in the Qing Chastity Cult:The Nexus of Sex and Propertyin Law and in Women's Lives 166

6 Sexual Behavior as Status Performance:The Regulation of Prostitution Before 1723 210

7 The Extension of Commoner Standards:Yongzheng Reforms and theCriminalization of Prostitution 260

8 Conclusion 3°5

Appendixes

A Basic Legislation Against Sex Offenses 323

B Qing Sodomy Legislation 329

C Forced Remarriage of Chaste Widows 333

xvi Contents

D Lii Kun's "Prohibitions Issued to Yue Households" 338

E Dynasties and Reign Periods 341

Notes 345Refeiences 369Character List 385Index 397