rushthatspeaks | Translations

Here's the first set of my translations of the position descriptions from that Sui Dynasty sex manual (helpfully Latinized, as you may recall, by the author of the work on sex in ancient China that

telophase has been reading). I am trying to be as true to the meaning of the text as possible, but I'm not taking the time to make the English very pretty, and I'm ignoring the fact that a lot of the Latin uses things such as subjunctives and perfect passive participles in preference for a more direct simple past and imperative style.

Phoenix Holding Its Chicken (reposted from comments to

telophase's journal): This conjunction is the figure made when, in order to be fully joined, the woman proceeds to make fatter and longer the man's short-statured erection.

Note: I can't figure out whether this means she's handling him so that they can start penetration, or whether there are actually some form of penile extensions involved here, because I can't tell from the word used whether he's not fully erect yet or whether he is and there's just not enough there.

By popular demand, the winner of the poll by a landslide: Wailing Monkey Embracing A Tree: The man, being seated with his legs crossed, holds the woman in his lap with her back to him, so that his arm may twine about her. His other hand should be placed under her buttocks to assist with inserting his Jasper Stalk [ed. note: that read *very oddly* in Latin]. When they start to move, that hand should be moved to support him upright on the bed/couch/cushions [flat, soft surface; word is not definite as to what sort].

...y'know, I can kind of see the analogy here. I guess. If I squint. And hey, at least persons of my gender get to be the (relatively dignified) tree.

First runner-up: Two Dancing Female Phoenix Birds: The man should have one woman lie flat on her back, and the other woman should sit over her. The woman on the bottom then elevates her legs, so that the other finds the way between her straddling feet, and each brings the other closer, so that they come together nearly vulva to vulva. The man then turns his head to them, causing them to bend their knees, so that the Jade Portals of both top and bottom women may come to his mouth in alternating succession.

...

DUDE. I was really not expecting the second woman. I just wasn't. And again, I can see the analogy, if I accept the poetic terms as a given.

Also, I think I've got some inkling of why all of these are in Latin: this is some of the prettiest Latin sentence construction I've seen in quite a while, and the parallel clauses are really, really shiny. Language geekery for the sheer fun of it-- I think I like this author a little better now. He writes more beautifully in Latin than most people do in English.

If you're not familiar with Barry Hughart's very funny fantasy novel Bridge of Birds, it's worth a look. Some of the names of these positions turn up in it, and I had, before this, assumed that he was making them the heck up.

Nope.

A tour through the relevant section of Bridge of Birds:

The noises downstairs suggested that Miser Shen was acquiring a goat, some castor oil, and a load of garbage, and Pretty Ping and I took the opportunity to get acquainted. In China when young people wish to become acquainted they usually start by playing Fluttering Butterflies, because there is no better way to get to know somebody than to play Fluttering Butterflies.

Fluttering Butterflies: The man lies supine with his legs spread apart. The woman, spreading her thighs, sits upon his brow, turning it towards her. She should set her feet on the bed to support her so she can use her hands to sustain herself in brisk motion. Then his Lively Point [ed.: I believe this to be the tongue] can be introduced into her Precious Portal.

I think I'd want to know the young man's name and address first, as Terry Pratchett advises, but I must admit this sounds likely to engender good feeling all round.

"Eat!" Miser Shen screamed to the goat.

After young people have become acquainted it is customary to warm things up with the Kingfisher Union, because it is impossible to engage in the Kingfisher Union without becoming close friends.

Kingfisher Union: The woman should lie on her back and with both her hands clutch both the man's feet. The man then kneels, spreading his knees and embracing the woman around her middle. Thus the Jade Stalk may thrust into the Chorded Lute [ed.: probably her mouth].

I've switched to using 'jade' even though the Latin word is technically 'jasper', because I'm pretty sure jade is the intended meaning. I don't know how you get Kingfisher anything out of that position, but, oddly enough, this is the first of these where I can't see the metaphor at all. Anybody?

"Gold!" screamed Miser Shen.

A cup of wine is then called for, and a discussion of relative merits that is usually resolved in favor of Hounds by the Ninth Day of Autumn.

Hounds of the Ninth Day of Autumn: The woman sinks down on both hands and knees; the man, with his body over her, sinks down onto her back and inclines himself downward so that the Jade Stalk may enter the Jade Portal easily.

We still call this dog-fashion, I notice. My friend Sei says that the ninth day of autumn was the official start of hunting season, so that a hound on that day would be straining eagerly to be allowed out of its pen and off its leash.

"Eat!" screamed Miser Shen.

The young gentleman then plays the lute while the young lady dances in a manner that would cause a riot if performed in public, and they inevitably become entangled in Six Doves Beneath the Eaves on a Rainy Day.

Okay, maybe this one is made up. Either that or it's from a different sex manual, or else was translated from the Chinese so differently in this book that I don't recognize it. There are a lot of bird-related position names here, but none that even remotely resemble this one.

"Gold!" screamed Miser Shen.

Now that friendship has been firmly established it is but a step and a jump to become soulmates, and the fastest way to become soulmates is Phoenix Sporting in the Cinnabar Crevice.

Phoenix Sporting In The Cinnabar Crevice: The woman lies on her back with her legs lifted high, holding onto her own heels. The man bends his knees, sinking down in front of her, and inserts the Jade Stalk into the Cinnabar Fissure. Thus he may move his haunches by supporting himself with his hands on the bed. This position brings the rise of the most voluptuous and driving sensations.

"Eat!" screamed Miser Shen.

This will lead to wine, love poems, and a return to Fluttering Butterflies, but slowly and drowsily, accompanied by giggles, and so it goes in China until the dawn, when somebody might calm down enough to consider testing the purity of gold coins.

I'll just add that Number Ten Ox, the narrator of Bridge of Birds, seems to have quite the stamina, and both he and his lady are in good shape and flexible.

More to follow presently. I think I'll just put them in this entry and then put a link-back whenever I update it so that they're all in the same place.

~~If anybody wants to see the Latin, let me know, but I've got image files of photos of the text, so I can't copy-paste, and I don't want to type it all in; I'd far rather email you the image files.~~ I am reminded that I have a photo display option, since this is a paid account, so I'll have those images up for you soon.

I love the things my classical education turns out to be good for.