Latest news with #danmei
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
China cracks down on gay porn by rounding up erotic fiction writers as they face interrogations and jail
Chinese authorities are cracking down on gay erotic fiction, with dozens of writers - many of them young women - facing brutal interrogations. Under the clampdown, which began in February, authors found guilty of producing and distributing 'obscene materials' could spend up to 10 years behind bars, the BBC has reported. At the center of the crackdown is 'danmei', a type of erotic fiction that details sexual relations between male characters, and is mostly read and written by straight women. Originally from Japan, the genre has become increasingly popular in China as it offers its readers an alternative to the stereotypes of passive and obedient women in heterosexual relationships. But as danmei grows more popular in China, state media has begun to brand the genre as 'vulgar', claiming that its gay story lines could distort the sexual orientations of readers. One woman, who goes by the name Pingping Anan Yongfu on social platform Weibo, was arrested and described her horrific ordeal online. 'I'll never forget it – being escorted to the car in full view, enduring the humiliation of stripping naked for examination in front of strangers, putting on a vest for photos, sitting in the chair, shaking with fear, my heart pounding,' she wrote. But Pingping, whose post quickly went viral, was forced to delete her post. She then admitted that she had broken the law and deleted her account. The female authors who have been arrested so far this year had published their work on Haitian Literature City, a Taiwanese website that distributes 'danmei' content. The harsh crackdown by Chinese authorities has prompted an online debate. One Weibo user wrote: 'Is sex really something to be ashamed of?'. Other online commentators have noted that some people convicted of rape have received lighter sentences than 'danmei' authors. Meanwhile, #AuthorsArrested trended on Weibo before the tag was censored. This is not the first time China has sought to silence erotic fiction authors. Last year, 50 writers who had their work published on the site were prosecuted. In 2018, authorities launched a campaign to 'eradicate pornography and illegal publications' by offering financial rewards for reporting banned content to police. Weibo also made the decision to remove pornographic and gay content, but then reversed its decision after widespread criticism. That same year, a Chinese author named only as Liu was sentenced to 10 years in prison after she self-published a book that 'obscenely and in detail described gay male-male acts'. The court ruled that the strict sentence was enforced due to her having made 150,000 yuan (£16,774.1) by selling over 7,000 copies. The case went viral on Chinese social media as commentators asked how such a punishment made sense when some sexual assault cases often drew lighter sentences. Under Chinese pornography laws, 'explicit descriptions of gay sex or other sexual perversions' are strictly prohibited. While homosexuality is not a crime in China, gay marriage is yet to be legalized , while same sex couples are forbidden from adopting children.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
China cracks down on gay porn by rounding up erotic fiction writers - as one female author reveals humiliating punishment she was made to endure
Chinese authorities are cracking down on gay erotic fiction, with dozens of writers - many of them young women - facing brutal interrogations. Under the clampdown, which began in February, authors found guilty of producing and distributing 'obscene materials' could spend up to 10 years behind bars, the BBC reports. At the centre of the crackdown is 'danmei', a type of erotic fiction that details sexual relations between male characters, and is mostly read and written by straight women. Originally from Japan, the genre has become increasingly popular in China as it offers its readers an alternative to the stereotypes of passive and obedient women in heterosexual relationships. But as danmei grows more popular in China, state media has begun to brand the genre as 'vulgar', claiming that its gay story lines could distort the sexual orientations of readers. One woman, who goes by the name Pingping Anan Yongfu on social platform Weibo, was arrested and detailed her horrific ordeal on social media. 'I'll never forget it – being escorted to the car in full view, enduring the humiliation of stripping naked for examination in front of strangers, putting on a vest for photos, sitting in the chair, shaking with fear, my heart pounding,' she wrote. But Pingping, whose post quickly went viral, was forced to delete her post. She then admitted that she had broken the law and deleted her account. The female authors who have been arrested so far this year had published their work on Haitian Literature City, a Taiwanese website that distributes 'danmei' content. The harsh crackdown by Chinese authorities has prompted an online debate. One Weibo user wrote: 'Is sex really something to be ashamed of?'. Other online commentators have noted that some people convicted of rape have received lighter sentences than 'danmei' authors. Meanwhile, #AuthorsArrested trended on Weibo before the tag was censored. This is not the first time China has sought to silence erotic fiction authors. Last year, 50 writers who had their work published on the site were prosecuted. In 2018, authorities launched a campaign to 'eradicate pornography and illegal publications' by offering financial rewards for reporting banned content to police. Weibo also made the decision to remove pornographic and gay content, but then reversed its decision after widespread criticism. That same year, a Chinese author named only as Liu was sentenced to 10 years in prison after she self-published a book that 'obscenely and in detail described gay male-male acts'. The court ruled that the strict sentence was enforced due to her having made 150,000 yuan (£16,774.1) by selling over 7,000 copies. The case went viral on Chinese social media as commentators asked how such a punishment made sense when some sexual assault cases often drew lighter sentences. Under Chinese pornography laws, 'explicit descriptions of gay sex or other sexual perversions' are strictly prohibited. While homosexuality is not a crime in China, gay marriage is yet to be legalised , while same sex couples are forbidden from adopting children.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- The Independent
Mounting public anger in China as writers of gay erotic fiction face prosecution: ‘Unreasonable and ignorant'
Chinese authorities have reportedly launched a sweeping crackdown on writers of gay erotic fiction danmei, particularly those who publish online. Police in the Anhui and Gansu provinces detained dozens of young authors, including college students, and accused them of producing and disseminating 'obscene materials for profit', the BBC reported. One writer, who made a mere ¥4,000 (£406) from tips sent in by readers, was reportedly summoned from Chongqing, around 1,000km from Gansu, for questioning. Over 10 writers in Gansu have been investigated, and at least one prosecuted for 'producing or distributing obscene materials for profit', according to a report in Caixin. One writer from Chongqing who earned ¥21,313 had to repay what she made in addition to paying fines worth ¥50,000-¥60,000 (£5,087- £6,104), and even saw her graduate school admission revoked, the Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported. Another author who writes under their pen name Yun Jian, made ¥1.84m (£187,268) and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, according to RFA. The wave of arrests, investigations, and sentencing is broadly viewed as part of China 's ongoing 'clean internet campaign', but critics have called the purge far too expansive and vague. These arrests are often justified by China's 2004 criminal law, which penalises 'obscene materials for profit'. The law, amended most recently in 2010, expanded the definition of obscenity and strengthened penalties for online distribution, mandating up to three years' imprisonment for pornography and up to 10 years or more if the offence is 'especially serious'. Under it, earning over ¥250,000 (£25,435) can result in life sentences, while smaller earnings still carry prison terms. Danmei, which translates to 'addicted to beauty' emerged in the late 1990s, inspired by Japanese 'boys' love' stories and slash fiction. Initially flourishing in underground online fan communities, it evolved into a mainstream phenomenon hosted on commercial platforms like Jinjiang Literature City, founded in 2003, and Taiwan's Haitang Literature City, which has become a haven for many writers and readers. Today, Jinjiang houses over 500,000 titles and seven million users, with danmei comprising the majority of its top 100 works. Though self-censored for explicit content since 2014, the genre continues to thrive under the guises of romance, wuxia, xianxia, and more. What makes danmei distinct is its fusion of romantic relationships between men with broader narrative styles, often historical fantasy or martial arts. The cultural impact of danmei expanded massively when these web novels began leading to adaptations across multiple media. A prime example is Word of Honor, a 36-episode wuxia streaming series based on the novel Faraway Wanderers by danmei writer Priest. Starring Zhang Zhehan and Gong Jun, it aired in early 2021 and garnered international acclaim, ranking among the top BL dramas on Douban with an 8.6 rating and drawing millions of views on YouTube and Netflix. Despite heavy censorship, these dramas have not only thrived domestically but soared overseas. Streaming platforms have purchased rights to adapt at least 59 danmei novels by 2020. The Untamed, for example, reportedly earned over 200 million daily views during its final broadcast month on Tencent, according to a 2022 study published in Sage Journals, while its adaptation of Heaven Official's Blessing broke into Western anime fandoms. Public reactions on social media have been strong, despite widespread censorship. On Weibo and WeChat, users questioned both the motives and moral alarm. ABC News reported that one writer, anonymous 'Elsa', said it was 'unreasonable and ignorant to treat all boys love fiction as obscene'. 'It's so unfair and such utter bulls*** what the government is doing. Really? Danmei authors face such actions while rapists and murderers never even come close to this. Make it make sense,' a Reddit user wrote. The mounting public anger is fuelled in part by earlier high-profile cases that many viewed as disproportionate and politically charged. In 2018, Anhui courts sentenced a female writer under the pen name Tianyi to 10-and-a-half years in prison for her YA romance Occupy featuring male students and teachers, reportedly earning around ¥150,000 (£15,261) and selling 7,000 copies; critics said the punishment was heavier than many sentences for rape. Since 2004, successive anti-porn campaigns have shuttered danmei sites and triggered cycles of self-censorship on platforms such as Jinjiang Literature City, which rebranded its danmeisection as 'pure love' and banned any depiction of intimacy below the neck in 2014. This policy shift is not occurring in isolation, but it reflects a broader ideological tightening under Chinese president Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly called for the 'purification' of the internet and cultural industries. In 2021, China's National Radio and Television Administration issued a directive banning the appearance of 'effeminate men' on screen and urging broadcasters to 'resolutely put an end to abnormal aesthetics' and promote 'revolutionary culture'. The crackdown has already had a chilling effect, with authors already deleting stories, withdrawing from platforms, or halting publication altogether. Posts offering legal advice or information on copyright protections have disappeared from social media, and multiple writer accounts have been suspended or erased entirely, reported the BBC. While danmei fiction continues to circulate in smaller communities, creators say they are unsure what boundaries they are now expected to observe.
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
China arrests 30 female writers over gay erotic fiction
China has arrested at least 30 writers – almost all of whom are women in their 20s – since February, as it clamps down on the publication of gay erotic fiction. Under China's strict pornography laws, writers who are found guilty of 'producing and distributing obscene materials' and have earned money for their work, could face more than 10 years in prison. One of the women targeted, who goes by the name Pingping Anan Yongfu, recounted the experience of her arrest on social media, despite being ' warned not to talk about it '. 'I'll never forget it – being escorted to the car in full view, enduring the humiliation of stripping naked for examination in front of strangers, putting on a vest for photos, sitting in the chair, shaking with fear, my heart pounding,' she wrote online. After her post went viral, she deleted it and wrote another one acknowledging that she had broken the law before deleting her account entirely. She is part of a group of women known for writing 'danmei', a type of erotic fiction that emerged in the 1990s and often involves a BDSM relationship between two male characters. Inspired by Japanese boys' love for manga, and increasingly popular in China, the genre is normally hosted online and tends to be targeted at women. The stories are known to be subversive and go against what is often seen as normal or right. For example, in 'danmei' stories, male characters are often portrayed as vulnerable and are able to become pregnant. The genre has become increasingly popular over the years, with 60 'danmei' stories optioned for film and TV in 2021, with the most expensive sold for over £4 million. The female 'danmei' writers who have been arrested so far this year had published their work on Haitang Literature City, a website known for hosting the genre. Late last year, another 50 writers who had published their work on the site were also prosecuted. China's pornography law specifically prohibits 'explicit descriptions of gay sex or other sexual perversions ' and gay erotica writers tend to be targeted more than those who write heterosexual erotica. While homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997 and removed from a list of psychiatric disorders in 2001, gay marriage has yet to be legalised and same-sex couples cannot adopt children. The government has also previously cracked down on LGBT rights groups and there have been reports of young transgender people being sent to 're-education' camps, as the government pushes forward traditional family values. One 'danmei' writer who shared her experience on social media said that she was pulled out of her college class by police officers who then proceeded to search her dorm room. Another said: 'I'm only 20. So young, and I've already ruined my life so early.'
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Haitang: China is cracking down on young women who write gay erotica
"I've been warned not to talk about it," the woman wrote, before revealing snippets of the day she says she was arrested for publishing gay erotica."I'll never forget it - being escorted to the car in full view, enduring the humiliation of stripping naked for examination in front of strangers, putting on a vest for photos, sitting in the chair, shaking with fear, my heart pounding."The handle, Pingping Anan Yongfu, is among at least eight in recent months which have shared accounts on Chinese social media platform Weibo of being arrested for publishing gay erotic fiction. As authors recounted their experiences, dozens of lawyers offered pro bono least 30 writers, nearly all of them women in their 20s, have been arrested across the country since February, a lawyer defending one told the BBC. Many are out on bail or awaiting trial, but some are still in custody. Another lawyer told the BBC that many more contributors were summoned for had published their work on Haitang Literature City, a Taiwan-hosted platform known for its "danmei", the genre of so-called boys' love and erotic fiction. Think of it as a gay version of Fifty Shades of Grey: a BDSM relationship that leads to a happily-ever-after. That's a frequent trope, across historical, fantasy or sci-fi settings. Over the years it has cultivated a fiercely devoted following, especially among young Chinese authors are being accused of breaking China's pornography law for "producing and distributing obscene material". Writers who earn a profit could be jailed for more than 10 law targets "explicit descriptions of gay sex or other sexual perversions". Heterosexual depictions often have more leeway - works by acclaimed Chinese authors, including Nobel Laureate Mo Yan, have graphic sexual scenes, but are widely available. Although authors of heterosexual erotica have been jailed in China, observers say the genre is subjected to far less censorship. Gay erotica, which is more subversive, seems to bother authorities more. Volunteers in a support group for the Haitang writers told the BBC police even questioned some who reported being arrested declined to be interviewed, fearing repercussions. Police in the northwestern city of Lanzhou, who are accused of driving this crackdown, have not responded to the the crackdown has unleashed a debate - and a rarer pushback against the law."Is sex really something to be ashamed of?" a Weibo user asked, arguing that China's anti-obscenity laws are out of touch. Another wrote that women never get to decide what is obscene because they don't control the narrative. Even legal scholars have expressed concern that just 5,000 views for anything deemed "obscene" qualifies as criminal "distribution", lowering the bar to arrest made Beijing uneasy enough that discussions have been vanishing: #HaitangAuthorsArrested drew more than 30 million views on Weibo before it was censored. Posts offering legal advice are gone. A prominent Chinese news site's story has been taken down. Writers' accounts, and some of the handles, are also Pingping Anan Yongfu's post went viral, she deleted it and wrote another, thanking supporters and admitting her writing had violated the law. She then deleted her that last post, she had written: "I was always the good girl in my parents' eyes. But that day, I brought them nothing but shame. They'll never hold their heads up again." Danmei: The uncrowned royal of pop culture These women have long worked in the shadows in China, where homosexuality and eroticism are stigmatised. Now outed by police investigations, they face social consequences that are as brutal as the legal ones. "In that moment, all I felt was shame," posted a writer whose Weibo handle translates to "the world is a huge psychiatric hospital". She said the police pulled her out of class in college - and her classmates watched as they followed her to search her dorm."I earned my money word by word at a keyboard. But once it went south, it was as if none of that mattered. People treated me like I'd made money without ever working for it."Another wrote the police had been kind, advising her to speak to a lawyer and return her "illegal earnings" to reduce her sentence. "I'm only 20. So young, and I've already ruined my life so early."A third said: "I never imagined a day would come when every word I once wrote would come back to haunt me."One author who has been writing danmei novels for 20 years was not questioned but she says the crackdown won't stop her. "This is how I find happiness. And I can't let go of the connections I have made with the community."Inspired by Japanese boys' love manga, danmei emerged as a sub-genre online in the 1990s. It has become hugely successful, with some of the novels appearing on international bestseller lists. In 2021, 60 of them were optioned for film and TV adaptations. The most expensive IP reportedly sold for 40 million yuan ($5.6 million; £4.1 million). Some of China's biggest stars, such as Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, began their careers on streaming shows based on danmei novels. In short, it's the rebellious royal of pop culture - too popular to ignore, too controversial to it is a signature offering on Haitang, which, in Mandarin, is a flower that blooms in every shade of Haitang and danmei have flourished as uniquely female spaces, although they centre male protagonists. In a culture where female sexual desire is routinely policed, danmei beceme a coded, creative outlet - a space where women can write about female desire for other is exactly what makes danmei so "subversive", says Dr Liang Ge, who teaches digital sociology at University College London. It allows women to "detach from gendered realities", which they often associate with marriage and instance, in danmei stories, men can get pregnant and are at ease with being vulnerable – a stark contrast from the often unequal relationships many Chinese women struggle with in real life."Danmei frees me from thinking about all those potential dangers in relationships in traditional heterosexual romance," explains one writer who has been active in the danmei world for a novels are not without their critics, because some do contain extreme and violent scenes. "As a parent, how many of us can accept our children reading novels like this, let alone writing them?" asked one Weibo age of authors has also been a concern: a handful of those the BBC spoke to said they all started reading and writing gay erotica before they turned 18, some as young as 11. It's a problem the community should acknowledge and address, said Ma, a danmei writer who only shared her surname, adding that this is a problem for all adult content because China does not restrict content by danmei in particular has increasingly come under attack in the last decade as Beijing launched a series of campaigns to "clean up" the internet. In 2018 a danmei author was jailed for 10 years for selling 7,000 copies of her book titled Occupy. 'My earnings were evidence of my crime' As marriage and birth rates plummet, and China's leader Xi Jinping encourages a national rejuvenation, so state scrutiny of danmei has ratcheted up, Dr Ge says."The Chinese government wants to promote traditional family values and liking danmei novels is seen as a factor in making women less willing to have children," Dr Ge is the second wave of mass arrests in less than a year - late last year, some 50 Haitang writers were prosecuted. A famous author who earned about 1.85 million yuan was jailed for nearly five two crackdowns are similar, according to a lawyer who had represented some of the defendants last year, "but this time, even those with minor involvement weren't spared".A lawyer offering free legal advice said more than 150 people requested consultations in just two days. Many of those contacting her had not been charged yet - they were terrified about the possibility though."This is classic offshore fishing," says a lawyer who authored a "practical guide" to assist Haitang writers. The term refers to overreach by local police - those in Lanzhou summoned writers in various places, arguably beyond their reported paying out of pocket to fly to Lanzhou. One posted that the 2,000 yuan earned from two books on Haitang paid for the year too all the arrests were by police in Jixi County in eastern China. Indebted local governments have done this before to earn revenue through fines, sometimes forcing a warning from the central government. Cyber crimes are particularly prone to this "as long as they claim a local reader was corrupted", the lawyer says. Danmei writers know tolerance can be fickle. It's why they skirt censorship with metaphors. "Making dinner" means sex; "kitchen tool" is code for male the recent crackdown stunned them. "A phone call shattered my dreams," is how one writer described the call from accused police of searching their phone without a warrant. They said their crime was assessed by adding up the views for each chapter - a method they argued was misleading, as it likely exaggerated the danmei author posted: "I wrote on Haitang for years, with only a handful of readers. Then, those overlooked stories accumulated over 300,000 clicks, and the 4,000 yuan in royalties sitting in my account became evidence of my crime."It's hard to know if this spells the end of their careers on Haitang."If I could go back, I'd still choose to write. And I will keep writing," wrote the handle Sijin de Sijin."Right now, I can only hope the law will see beyond the words on the page - and see the girl who skipped meals to save money, the girl who sold her hair to buy a pen, the girl who believed her mind could carve a way through fate. I hope it gives all of us a fair chance."Additional reporting by Grace Tsoi in Hong Kong
