Rou pu tuan

About “Rou pu tuan”

The Carnal Prayer Mat is a 1657 novel by Li Yu that has been widely read in China for three hundred years. It is considered a benchmark of erotic literature and is currently a banned-in-Beijing classic. The story follows Scholar Vesperus, a handsome orphan and student of Zen. Before becoming a monk, Vesperus engages in a life of indulgence. His experiences as a "hero of the boudoir" lead to both humorous and tragic events, ultimately resulting in his "enlightenment on the carnal prayer mat."