It’s difficult to know precisely how many people practice Taoism in China today, but evidence of the West’s fascination with this ancient religion is all around us. From Tai Chi classes to Yin Yang necklaces and Feng Shui for Dummies, it seems we’re quite happy to help ourselves – especially where Taoist sex is concerned.
Taoists around the world practice non-ejaculation during sex in the belief that this will fire up energy reserves in their body and make them better lovers. If you are someone who is rather keen on rounding off a spot of how’s your father in the customary manner, this approach may seem utterly bizarre, but retention of semen is one of the founding principles of Taoist sexual practice."No Taoist worth their sex salt would dream of rolling off and asking a woman if she came"
An array of books Taoist sex books, that promise us the secret to better sex. Photo: (L) Taoist Secrets of Love Cultivating Male Sexual Energy by Mantak Chia, (M) Healing Love through the Tao by Mantak Chia, (R) Sexual Reflexology by Mantak Chia and W.U. Wei
Taoist sex techniques are based on fang shu, or fang zhong shu, which translates to ‘inside the bedchamber’, and was developed by Chinese sex wizards during, or even before, the Han dynasty (200BC-220AD). To understand why Taoists feel it is so important men keep their sauce in the bottle, you need to know something about Yin and Yang. Fang shu teaches that the masculine energy (yang) and the feminine energy (yin) replenish one another through sex, and that this then creates jing, a powerful sexual energy."Modern science doesn’t recommend men cork up their cum, but there is a lot to be said for slowing down"
The modern 'yin-yang' that has become a symbol of Taoism. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chinese erotica from the 4th century AD. Photo: via Alamy
A statue of Lao Tzu in Quanzhou, the founder of philosophical Taoism. Photo: via Wikimedia Commons
Western Taoist sex books, teaching us the secrets to the ancient sex practice. Photo: (L) Taoist Foreplay by Mantak Chia & Kris Deva North, (R) Taoist Tantra by Kris Deva North