The nerves control the tnotor activity of these n1uscles, 
conununicate sensations to the brain, and are responsible tor the 
rhythmi c con tractions of sexual organs during orgasn1. A1uscl t·s th,u ,,ll't' the cert>ix 
inl'(lluntan'l>' ---------r�H---ft�cs�-..-.-
.Musd £'S that nmtract cmd 
expand the· arms 
Aluscl es that encircle atrd gnp 
the ''agitta ----------+���=-J! A.fr4scl es that cont ract and 
expa nd the 11aginal orifice 
In many men and won1en, the sexual muscles are weakened 
by chronic tension or atrophied through disuse. As a result, the 
pleasure these individuals get from sex is reduced and they may 
face more serious problems, such as urinary incontinence, hemor­
rhoids, lower back pain, displacement of the uterus or bladder, 
and painful intercourse. CINNABAR fiELD MASSAGE 
The ancients used this exercise to invigorate the cinnabar field, 
the fountainhead of chi, and to stimulate the digestive organs. It is 
a favorite therapeutic self-massage for both men and women. The exercise is done either lying on the back or standing. Un­
cover the front torso. Relax the abdominal and chest muscles. In 
cool weather rub the palms together vigorously for several sec­
onds, until they are warm, to avoid chilling the cinnabar field; 
warm palms facilitate the circulation of chi. Put the right palm on 
the cinnabar field (between navel and pubic hair). Press the palm 
down with moderate force while moving it clockwise, first up to a Rrcaptr�rr tlrr Sprin,'! 177 AN CIENT SECR ETS FOR MODERN LOVERS 
point between the navel and the breasts, then back down to the 
cinnabar field, and around. Usc the navel as the center of the cir­
cle, and move the palm at a rate of 4 seconds per circle. After 50 
circles with the right palm, rub the palms together vigorously 
again. Then, with the left palm, start from the cinnabar field in a 
counterclockw ise motion, for another 50 circles. Be careful to use 
only moderate pressure and to press with the palm, not the fin­
gers. When you have found the optimum pressure and your abdo­
men is used to the exercise, in about a week or two, increase to 1 oo 
circles for each palm. The exercise may be done in a vertical rather than a circular 
version. Put the right pahn at the same starting point, with the left 
palm pressing on top of it. Move both palms vertically upward 
with moderate pressure to the area between the navel and the 
breasts, and then move them downward. Switch the positions of 
the palms and repeat. GROIN MASSAGE 
This exercise, intended to stimulate secretion of gonadal hor­
mones, is especially beneficial to men and wotnen past age forty. This is really a self-massage, but it can be done as partner massage 
as well. There are two versions, one for males, one for females. First, the female version: With the fingers of both hand s, 
gently rub up and down along the left and right groin, where the 
legs meet the abdomen, frotn the sides of the vagina to the vicin­
ity of the hips-and back. Massage 36 tin1cs each session. Next, the n1ale version: Using the left hand to keep the geni­
tals out of the way, n1assage the right groin with the right tlngcrs 
36 tin1cs. Then change hands and rnassagc the left groin with the 
left fingers 30 tin1es. SACRAL-COCCYGEAL PRESS 
If the tUilll' of this ext·rcise is too n1uch of a jawbreaker, you nuy 
sitnplify it to "Tush Push." At the lo\ver end of the backbone are 
tive vertebrae fused into the sacrun1, below which arc four ver­
tebrae fused into the coccyx. You can fed the sacrun1 and coccyx 
in the lower back adjoining the buttocks. Ancient sexologists used acupressure to stimulate the eight 
"love points" located in the sacrum and coccyx area to heighten 
sexual energy. In this san1e area modern anatomists have found 
five pairs of sacral nerves and one pair of coccygeal nerves, which 
control n1oven1ents and n1onitor sensations throughout the lower 
limbs as well as in the genital and anal areas. To do the exercise alone, disrobe below the waist or wear un­
derpants of a thin material. Stand with your feet slightly apart, or 
sit on a stiff chair. With the fingertips of both hands, press and 
rub this area up and down with moderate pressure 50 times. This 
acupressure may be performed more effectively by one partner on 
the other; in that case the recipient lies stomach down. PERINEUM PRESS 
The perineum, the area between the genitals and the anus, is cru­
cial in Taoist sexology; one of the most important love points, 
hui-yin, is inside the perineum. In acupu ncture terms, the front 
midline meridian, the conception vessel, meets the back midline 
meridian, the governing vessel, at this point. Today's anatomists 
tell us that three pairs of sacral nerves monitoring the genital-anal 
area are centered here. As will be shown in the following chapters, 
hui-yin acupoint is a key for sexual arousal as well as orgasmic 
brinkmanship. Acupressure here should enhance sexual stamina. To do the exercise alone, lie on your back with your pants off, 
your thighs spread apart, and your knees bent. Use the middle 
fingertip of either hand to press on the perineum with moderate 
force for about 3 seconds. Repeat the acupressure roo times. Part­
ners may perform this exercise on one another. CHE ST MA SSAGE 
This massage aids circulation . Put your left palm on the center of 
your chest, directly on the stern un1 (mid way betw een the nip­
ples), and your right palm on top of the lef t. Press down moder ­
ately 3 times. Mo ve your palms downward to the waist, then 
circle clockwise, with the sternum as the center of the circle. Usc 
moderate pn:ssun.· all the time whik circling. After 50 circles, Recapture the Sprin� AN CIENT SE CRE TS FO R MOD ERN LOVERS 
return your palms to your chest. Change palms and do 50 circles 
counterclockwise. BREAST CIRC LES 
This exercise for women is designed to beautify the breasts, pro­
mote the secretion of female hormones, and facilitate milk pro­
duction in nursing mothers. Wear a thin T-shirt or disrobe above the waist. Stand, sit down, 
or lie on your back. Rub your hands together to warm the palms. Put your right palm on the lower portion of your right breast 
without touching the nipple, and do likewise with your left palm 
on your left breast. Gently massage the breasts, the right palm cir­
cling clockwise, the left palm counterclockwise-symmetr ically 
and simultaneously. After 36 circles, reverse directions and do an­
other 36 circles. Inhale deeply while moving the palms up, and ex­
hale while moving them down. If you massage directly on the 
skin, a bit of scented herbal oil may help. ScROTUM RuB 
For men, this may be the best massage for sexual energy and health. The principal male sex hormone, testosterone, is produced by the 
testicles. The Scrotum Rub is designed to enliven the n1ale organ 
in general and stimulate the secretion of testosterone in particu­
lar. This exercise may be done with one hand while the other does 
the Cinnabar Field Massage. Disrobe below the waist. Lie on your back with your thighs 
spread and your knees bent, or stand with your teet about 24 
inches apart. Rub your pahns together until they arc warn1. Press 
the right paln1 on the scrotu nt with a lifting n1otion. so that the 
lirnp penis is up against the pubic region and the tip of the n1iddl e 
finger just over tht.· perint. ·unt . With gentle pressur e, tnassa ge the 
scrotur n up and down so tinlt. 's; then change hands and do an­
otht.·r 50 tin1es. When your scrotun1 becornes used to the exercise 
and you know tht.· optirnunt pressure to apply, increase the nlas­
sagc to 100 titnes for each hand. Be sure to do this very gently, as 
the scrotu n1 is very dclicatt.· and can be injured easi ly. PILLOW NIP 
This exercise for \Vornen ain1s at prornoting the elasticity of the 
vagina wall. Lie on your back with your knees bent and held slightly apart. Put a bed pillow, folded double , or a stiff sofa cushion between 
your thighs . Close your thighs tightly against the pillow, nipping 
it with as rnuch pressure as you c1n. Release after a few seconds. Nip and rekasc in this rnanncr so tirnes. HIP SWIVEL 
This exercise stinnilates both the internal organs and the cinnabar 
field. Stand with your feet about 24 inches apart, your knees slightly 
bent, and the cinnabar field slightly protruding. Put your hands 
on the side of your waist, with thumbs in front and fingers at the 
back. ln1agining a vertical axis from the center of your head, all 
the way down, swivel your hips to the right, back, left, and front 
in a clockwise direction. Move at about 3 seconds per circuit. In­
hale and contract your anal-genital muscles while moving your 
hips forward; exhale and relax the muscles while moving them 
backward. Move in smooth, continuous circles 10 times. Then re­
verse and move in a counterclockwise direction another 10 times. BoDYQ UAKE 
This exercise, as the name implies, wakes up internal organs. Like 
any other active exercise, it should not be attem pted by anyone 
with a heart condition, high blood pressure, or a slipped disc. You 
should wear loose clothing so that your scrotum or breasts can 
bounce up and down freely and vigorously. Stand upright with your entire body weight on the right leg, 
your left toes lightly touching the floor, and your left arm raised. Shake up and down rapidly 36 times, at about tw o quakes per sec­
ond. Relax the unoccupied lef t leg and right arm while shaking. Then switch arms and legs, and shake another 36 times. Recapture tire Sprin,(! 181 ANCIENT SECRE TS FOR MODERN LOVERS 
K.ITTEN STRETCH 
This is a longevity exercise that benefits the central nervous sys­
tem and the chi meridians. Stand with your feet slightly apart and your arms stretching 
out horizontally to left and right. Relax and exhale, while moving 
your arms slowly toward each other and slantingly downward un­
til they are parallel and pointing forward at a 45-degree angle 
to the floor. Inhale and move your arms back to their original 
position. Do this 8 times. Next kneel down, lean forward, and 
support your upper body on your palms, with your arms stretch­
ing down vertically. Bend your elbows so that your head almost 
touches the floor while your buttocks are raised high. Move your 
head forward while inhaling, as if trying to lick the floor with 
your tongue-don't actually do it! Move your head backward, ex­
haling. Stretch forward and backwar d a total of 64 times. Then 
stand up and repeat the arm movement 8 times. Although it looks relaxed and smooth, the kitten stretch could 
be quite strenuous, especially when you first practice it. Do not 
strain for the required number of stretches, but stop whenever 
you feel tired. After a number of days, increase the stretches grad­
ually until you can do 64 without strain. SALIVA FOUNTAIN 
This is a drinking exercise-you will be drinking your own saliva. Close your lips but not your teeth. Use the tip of your tongue 
to explore and sweep everywhere inside your closed mouth­
palate and floor, gums, between gun1 and cheek. The tongue 
sweep stin1ulates the saliva glands. Sweep tor 3 minutes, or until a 
large quantity of saliva has been collected. Then swallow it in 
three gulps. The exercise n1ay be practiced between partners. As a 
love gan1e it will be described in chapter 1 5. Alone, you nuy do this fron1 tin1e to tin1e during the day. It 
not only aids digestion and alleviates bad breath, but irrigates 
your systen1 as well. Saliva is still not fully understood; what an­
cient Taoists called the elixir of tht· Red Lotus Peak has been 
found by n1odern scientists to contain various enzyn1es and anti­
septics and a sex honnone. TEETH CHATTER 
This practice strengthens the teeth and gums, and gives some of 
the benefits of the Saliva Fountain. Close your mouth and chatter your teeth resounding ly 36 
times. Next hold the forehead with one hand and the jaw with the 
other. With firm but gentle force of your hands, move the jaw to 
the left and right of the forehead 36 times. After a while this 
should produce a mouthful of saliva. Swish the saliva inside your 
closed mouth; then swallow it in three gulps. It must be noted that all these sexually oriented exercises­
like all Chinese exercises for health purposes -are gentle, slow, 
and aimed at long-term results. The traditional Chinese concept 
of health and fitness is different from the Western version. Instead 
of pumping iron, lifting weights, or jogging to exhaustion to 
"shape up" the body and strengthen external muscles, the Chi­
nese prefer to work on their internal organs. They believe that 
healthy, strong vital ogans mean smooth, tr ouble-free circula­
tion, respiration, digestion, excretion, and procreation. Only 
professional acrobats and kung fu devotees punish their bodies 
with strenuous, "no pain, no gain" exercises. But even they must 
strengthen themselves internally before they feel safe to build 
themselv es up externally. Judging by modern standards of physiology and sexology, 
these erotic exercises and therapy appear to benefit sexual muscles, 
sexual nerves, and even hormonal secretion. The Taoist belief in 
energizing sexual chi through meditative deep breathing, whether 
it can be proved in the laboratory or not, may be an added benefit. Recapture the Spring 14 
The Alch emy of Desire 
Enhanc ing Love-Play 
SOPH ISTIC ATED LOVE RS OFTEN ENJOY a refinement of sexuality, 
which depends largely on what may be called the alchemy of de­
sire. The ancients intended for this alchemy to achieve the ul­
timate harmony of Yin and Yang, in which the dual elements 
endlessly energize each other with sexual chi. Like the alchemist s 
who experimented with a wide variety of substances in the cruci­
ble, ingenious lovers are ever creative in their love-play. But n1ere 
creativity and experimentation are only part of the picture: love 
requires senti1nent, passion, and affection; and play the ability to 
tantalize, seduce, and frolic whin1sically. Ancient sexologists such as the Elemen tal Maid, the Arcane 
Maid, and the Mystic Master of the Grotto all advised fun and 
frolic before intercourse, so as to energize the partners for a re­
warding sexual union. For people today, with a stressful lifestyle 
and accon1panying sexual problcn1s, rnodern sexologists increas­
ingly recognize that love-play is essential to satist:Ktory se xual in ­
tercourse. The "sensate f(.1cus" exercises devised by Masters and 
Johnson to treat sexual dysfunctions betwt·en partners now arc 
rcconlnll'IH.kd by tnost conternporary sexologists. BRIDGING THE SEXUAL GAP 
The lovt·-pby suggested by ancient and n1odern st•xologists has 
several t'sscntial functions. t)ne is to bridge what 1nay be callt·d the sex gap. While n1en and won1en arc very n1uch alike in having 
basic sexual urges, they arc quite different, physiologic ally and 
psychologically, in their sexual responses. If we ignore this and 
other ditlerences, we n1ay pay a terrible price in bed. For exan1plc, nll'n arc at their biological sexual peak between 
the ages of sixteen and twenty. hut won1cn peak between twenty 
and thirty. Sexual arousal patterns arc also different between the 
sexes. Although there arc always exceptional individuals, and ex­
ceptional tin1cs for the san1c individual. the general patterns for 
men and for won1cn arc consistent: Other factors being equal, a 
n1an normally is aroused easily. and can get an erection in a few 
seconds. But as a rult� it takes longer for a woman to be aroused. She needs a longer and wider variety of stimulation, both physi­
cal and en1otional. Alfred Kinsey found that of the husbands he surveyed, three 
out of four ejaculated within two minutes during coitus; a more 
recent American study reveals a longer time of ten minutes. This 
is definitely an improvement but is still no blessing for many 
won1en who in active intercourse require more time to reach or­
gasm. In other words: The average man comes on strong, but soon 
falls off the cliff The average woman climbs slowly to her peak 
and, once she is there, wafts down slowly or goes from peak 
to peak. Men often have considered themselv es the stronger sex be­
cause of their physical prowess and apparently greater muscular ­
ity, their love of combat, and their highly visible phallus. Because 
of hormonal and other differences, however, won1en are more re­
sistant to pain and disease; they live longer than men; they are the 
survivors in life. The ancient Taoists, prizing resilience over 
rigidity, inaction over action, and insisting that the weak can con­
quer the strong, considered women the stronger sex not only in 
life but also in bed. As far as sexual activity is concerned, there are at least two ap­
proaches to bridging the dismal and often neglected gap between 
the sexes: The languid female sexual response may be accelerated 
with love-play, or the hair-trigger male response may be decele­
rated with orgasmic brinkmanship. Better than either approach, 
of course, is a combination of both. According to ancient Chinese sexologists and some recent re­
searchers, erotic love-play and prudent coitus promote healthy The Alchemy C'f Dtsirt ANCIENT SECR ETS FO R MODERN LOVE RS 
186 longevity. Scientists today believe that if a person is relaxed and 
happy, and engages in or even thinks about sex, his body sends 
nerve signals to the brain and produces a host of body chemicals­
neuropeptides and hormones -that can alleviate illness, improve 
health, and even prolong life. SEx AND THE SENSES 
When love-play is practiced as foreplay to coitus, it helps pace the 
partners for a satisfactory union; it can be enjoyed also as an end in 
itself Love-play runs, or should run, the gamut of our senses: 
sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing. Just as a gourmet enjoying a 
delicacy not only inhales its aroma and savors its flavor, but de­
lights in its presentation, luxuriates in its texture, and notices the 
crunch and snap as he chews , we enjoy sex best with all our senses. The art of such enjoyment, which must be learned-and even 
more precisely, cultivated-elevates mere 1nechanical groping to 
erotic love-play. Visual images are very powerful for human se xuality. They 
can act as a sophisticated shorthand in arousing us, for what we 
see suggests what we may get. Touch, the basic language of sexuality, is far n1ore developed 
in human beings than in other animals. Our fing ertips tell us 
whether something is firm or soft, rigid or pliable, cold or warn1, 
dry or moist, rough or smooth or slippery. In fact, our skin is our 
largest sensory organ, with varying degrees and types of sen­
sitivity. The slightest touch on an erotically sensitive area by a 
sexual partner can cause an inuncdiate response, whether it be 
ticklishness or sexual flush or phallic or clitoral erection. Caressing, lt)tlliling, and kissing arc t3vorite pastin1es bct\veen 
lovers. A well-know n ltllk son g fron1 south west China entitled ' 
"Eigh tl·en Fondlings" is a favoritt' of cultural anthropologists , 
who have enshrint·d it in the scholarly archives of Bl'ijing Univ er­
sity. Lyrically . hut in ratht·r uncouth graphic tl'rnls, the song de­
scribes ont' aftt'r anothl'r thl· l'ighteen fen1ak· anat otnical terrains a 
null- pt·asant exp lores on his \Votnan. The tilth fondling, for ex­
antpk, involves "a triangular ticld," "a shuttle pointed at both 
ends," and .. a n1ustacht· that points in t\VO directions." Whether in 
the fonn of boorish pl'tting , or subtll' tactile flirtation between sophisticated lovers, touching is certainly the most direct and in­
stinctive forn1 of love-play. The sense of smell is vital to most animals, which are power­
fully influenced by pheromones, the chemical messengers secreted 
by anin1als to signal creatures of the same species. A principal 
means of communication for them, pheromones also contain an 
attractant for the opposite sex. Our distant ancestors developed an 
acute sense of smell in order to survive in their hazardous world, 
but because of disuse our olfactory sense has degenerated. We 
have mastered speech, so we no longer need rely on smell as a ma­
jor means of communication. In close personal relations, however, we are influenced very 
strongly by our sense of smell, though in great part subliminally. When we say we "instinctively" like or dislike someone we meet, 
our judgment may well reflect how that person's scent fits with 
our own olfactory preferences. There is no question that smell 
plays a significant though often unconscious part in sexual rela­
tions. Whether we realize it or not, we are attracted or repelled by 
the body odor of a member of the opposite sex. Some men are 
able to detect the particular scent that may be emitted by men­
struating women. Because of genetic and dietary factors, different races emit 
distinct types and degrees of body odor. The body scents of most 
Orientals, for instance, are much subtler than those of Cauca­
sians. In general, Orientals have a very faint musky odor, while 
that of Caucasians resembles ambergris. (Both of these scents, 
musk and ambergris, it should be noted, arc animal scents, and 
both have been used in aphrodisiacs and perfumes. Musk, which 
comes from a sac within the abdomen of the male musk deer, in 
its concentrated form has a persistent, penetrating odor. Amber­
gris, a sccn..:tion from the intestines of the spenn whale, is soft and 
black and has a disagreeable odor when fresh, but is hard and 
lighter-colored and emits a pleasant scent when it has been ex­
posed to sun and seawater. It is known as "dragon saliva" in China; 
the ancient Chinese believed it to be the saliva left by these crea­
tures-w hich they consider ed benign and auspicious-while sun­
ning them� clve s at the seashore. When used in perfumes, musk or 
ambergris i� �omct irnes blended with floral. woody, mossy, and 
herbal seen Ls.) A look at several thousand years of ( :hincsc history .md litera-The Alchemy of Desire ANCIENl . SEC RETS fOR MOi lf.NN 10\'f:RS 
188 tun: rcvea]s how signif icant was the ro]e of the olfactory. When 
the first-century B.c. Han emperor Cheng beca me enan 1ored of 
two sisters, for example, his infatuation was due partly to their 
natural body fragrance. He once remarked that he was drawn more 
to the younger one because she was even mor e fragrant than her sis­
ter. And then there was the story, also related earlier, of the Ching 
emperor Chien Lung and his tragic Fragrant Imperial Concubine. Female body aroma has been a favorite subject in erotic writing 
and in other literature as well-in fiction, essay, drama, poetry, and 
song. The most famous Chinese literary gem about female scents is 
an eleventh-century poem entitled "Ten Fragrances." In delicate 
and tasteful classical verse, it enumerates and describes the scents 
of a woman: the fragrance of her hair, her bosom, her cheeks, her 
neck, her tongue, her lips, her fingers, her feet, her vulva, her en­
tire body. The fragrance of the vulva is introduced thus: 
Loosen ing her tr ou ser-cor d, she shiver s in shame. His hand touche s her body, and her heart beats so, 
Not realizing that within her skir ts 
Comes a soul-meltingfragrance. This poem is famous for causing the tragic death of an em­
press of the Liao dynasty in the late eleventh century. A top impe­
rial aide deviously tricked the empress into copying the poem in 
her own hand; he then planted it as evidence of adultery between 
her and a palace composer. The emperor, Tao Tsung, fooled into 
believing his wife's infidelity, ordered her to commit suicide. Although less prominent than visual, tactile, and olfactory 
senses, the sense of taste often has an important role in foreplay. The gustatory sense is not just an empty image for poets when 
they sing of drinking nectar from a loved one's lips. There is a 
physiological basis for such poetry. The taste buds sensitive to 
sweetness are near the tip of the tongue, which acts as the van ­
guard in erotic kissing. Fortunately for lovers, taste buds for bit­
terness and sourness arc far back on the tongue. The Taoist Art of 
the Three Peaks, which involved savoring three bodily fluids, is 
mainly taste-oriented. For many, the taste of love juices is a potent 
aphrodisiac. The sense of hearing, like the sense of sight, is largely cere­
bral. Some individuals blessed with a sexy voice might excite n1en1bers of the opposite sex tnercly by speaking. Music, frotn ro­
ntantic strings to hard rock, often has erotic overtones for those 
attuned to it. Unabashed erotic whispers, nuunu1rs, n1oans, or 
aerobic breathing arc strong aphrodisiacs during lovetnaking. Won1en from two places in China-Tatung in Shansi province, 
and the Tientsin suburb of Yangliuching-werc f<unous for their 
love calls in bed. Lovemaking -like eating-can be enjoyed as a feast when we 
employ fully our tive senses, and satisfies an instinctive need in 
lite. When the tnood or circuntstance calls for it, we can enjoy an 
occasional quickie or an itnpron1ptu snack. To forestall bedroom 
problen1s, to hannonize Yin and Yang, erotic wooing by both 
partners before, during, and after coitus is not just desirable but 
essential. The most erotic stimulus in love-play, the most power­
ful aphrodisiac for all the senses, is the human mind: the brain, for 
all else it is, may be called a sex organ. A Two-WAY GAME 
A lover who is good in bed knows which are the body's erogenous 
zones and where the love points are, and understands how to de­
code the sexual responses of a partner and how to excite, seduce, 
and satisfy that partner. Love-play is an erotic language for lovers 
who enjoy sex and all its sensual ramifications as natural pleasur e. 
It is played in privacy by a couple as a reciprocal game. Fulfilling sex does not depend entirely on specific techniques 
or even successful performance of the Art of the Bedcham ber. Sexual happiness between partners in a monogamous relation­
ship depends on a host of other factors-physical, psychological, 
emotional, even financial. The art of lovemaking can enhance 
pleasure and thrill in a happy relationship, but it cannot create 
them in an unhappy one. Above all, personal alchemy between 
lovers is a unique mind-body interaction, unprecedented in expe­
rience and unpredictable in result. Many couples, especially those long married, tend to stay in a 
well-worn lovemaking rut. They become captives of routines, 
from initial love-play, if there is any, to orgasm. Lov emaking, es­
pecially love-play, becomes exciting when it is in1provised occa­
sionally. Improvising enables each partner to adapt to whatever Tht Alchrmy of Desire ANCIENT SECRE TS FOR MODERN LOVE RS 
190 responses are observed in the other, and concentrate on whatever 
best excites the latter. People exhibit a wide variety of reactions to 
erotic stimulation, whether it be external stimulation of the body 
or internal stimulation of the mind-or both. Some moan, some 
whisper, some talk a blue streak, some ululate like banshees. Oth­
ers, instead of vocalizing their reactions, express them in body 
language, from epileptic thrashing to apparent rigor mortis. A 
sensitive lover can gauge a partner's reactions to love-play. The various reactions, or symptoms of arousal, range from 
physiological, reflecting the sensory input experienced by the 
body, to cerebral, reflecting thoughts and emotions exciting the 
mind. Men often react readily to physical stimulation, while 
most women are put in an erotic mood more easily by psychologi­
cal stimulation of thoughts and emotions. The relative power of 
physical and psychological stimuli, however, varies among indi­
viduals and over time within the same individual. Love-play starts, or should start, long before a kiss or an em­
brace. It may begin with a subtle innuendo, an erotic code word, a 
brazen sexual invitation. Or the body may speak with a glance, a 
smile, a toss of hair or heave of bosom. Or the opening signals 
may begin amid an erotic ambience of low lights, sensual music, 
the scent of flowers or natural perfume of the body. Familiar part­
ners, especially long-married spouses, often telescope or even skip 
love-play, but an occasional return to romance could banish bed­
room blahs and lend a piquant touch to lovemaking. The physical phase of love-play should be approached with 
caution. Since love-play and coitus are the most intimate acts 
shared by two individuals, personal hygiene is of paramount im­
portance. As n1en arc more genital-oriented than wotncn, a n1an tnight 
tend to go directly to his partner's genitals at the start of love-play. This may dan1pcn the ardor of a sensitive wotnan. Since any sud­
den sexua l act could be either elixir or poison to a sensitive part­
ncr, especially a tcnule, one should respect all the dos and don'ts, 
and watch tor the various traffic signs-"slow," "yield," "stop," 
"soft shoulder ," "curve ahead," "slippery when wet." If one wants 
to venture into uncharted territory, a good tactic is to zip in tenta­
tively and zip out inunediatcly , to test the partner's reaction. If the 
reaction is clearly negative, change course. If the resistance seems 
halfhea rted or a ntcrt' ritual, ust' the Taoist tactics of two steps for-ward, one step back. With this strategy in love-play, one may dis­
cover untold delights that both partners secretly yearn for but are 
reluctant to admit verbally. Anytime and anywhere could be good for love-play. Although 
some lovers, out of either inventiveness or desperation, are at­
tracted to unconventional, even dangerous, locales, most prefer 
a more romantic environment-a secluded, moonlit beach, or a 
cozy, dimly lit living room, with the flowing cadences of a piano 
in the background, or a candlelit bedroom, perhaps with the bed 
strewn with rose or jasmine petals. LovE-PLAY HAs A PRELUDE 
The prelude to love-play may be deliberately programmed or en­
tirely spontaneous. A nervous laugh, significant glance, double 
entendre, or similar gesture or comment from either partner could 
touch off a train of delightful events-whether a brief exchange 
of sensual affections or lengthy lovemaking in the form of re­
peated, passionate coitus. The signals may be romantic. By stroking the partner's palm 
very lightly with a finger or sucking a fingertip, one can ignite an 
all-night conflagration. Occasional butterfly kisses-quick, light, 
flirtatious -here and there on the partner's arm, face, and neck tit­
illate. Nibbling an earlobe is one way to excite a partner. After all, 
some of the acupoints on the ear arc love points. The natural fra­
grance of a clean woman is intoxicating to some men, especially 
during an erotic encounter. Olfactory sensitivity is a major element in Chinese erotic po­
etry, as seen in the celebrated poem "Ten Fragrances," mentioned 
earlier. It is also important in the West. The French, for instance, 
usc the term cassolette (perfume pan) to describe the fragrance from 
a woman's body-lips, hair, skin, armpits, vulva-as well as her 
ling erie. This natural feminine fragrance is best enjoyed with the 
sniff-ki�s. or so-caHed Chinese kiss, done by putting one's nose 
next to the selected area of the partner's body and sniffing away 
soulfully. The ( :hinc�c usc: the nasal kiss mainly as an affectil 1nat c 
gesture with little childr en and as a flirtatious act bct wt·cn sexes. Lip- kissin g is strictly an erotic bed room act in ( :hina. If partners arc dining privatl·ly, pl·rhap� with candklight and The Alchemy of Desir e ANCIE NT SECR ETS FO R MODERN LOV ERS 
soft nn1sic, feeding one another rnay be stimulatin g. The feeding 
can progress from spooning food into one another's mouth, to 
n1outh-to-n1outh transfer of soft food. Ideal erotic foods for this 
purpose include peaches, jelly, raw oysters, and dams. Mouth-to­
rnouth feeding of wine is an age-old sensual act that tantalizes 
nuny lovers. Some people delight in pouring a little champagne 
into the navel of the partner, and drinking from-as well as lick­
ing and kissing-the fleshy cup. The chilled, fizzing champagne 
stimulates the partner onto whose navel it is poured. Warm rice 
wine, such as Chinese Shaoshing or Japanese sake, is a good alter­
native. One of the great preliminaries to sex is dancing-touch danc­
ing. Many torn1s of dancing, in fact, are evolved from stylized, 
sytnbolic representations of the sexual act. Touch dancing may 
permit one to sense a lot physically about one's partner through 
rhythm, moven1ent, and body contact-even with the clothes on. A discerning individual can appraise intuitively the sexual style of 
the dancing partner. Dancing in private while half dressed or un­
dressed is a spicy prelude to love-play. Signals of this prelude arc often playful. Sporadic, fleeting 
gestures carried out in a seemingly accidental or absentm inded 
manner have a built-in safety cushion in case of resistance, yet 
they may be very tantalizing to a receptive target. Some signals 
arc especially effective, whether one is dealing with a sexually in­
hibited partner or a fan1iliar but hitherto platonic friend. One is 
the "dead hand," by which a person "absentn1indedly" and lightly 
places a hand on another's upper ann, shoulder, waist, or thigh. If 
the reaction is negative, the hand is pron1ptly withdrawn; if there 
is no negative reaction , it renlJins ther e \Vithout any 1noven1ent, 
as if dead ; if the reaction is positive, the dead hand con1es to lite 
and becornes progr essiv ely friskier . Another pbyful ploy is a pinch, appl ied on sorne finn, fleshy 
part of the body such as the shoulder if ont' is shy, or the thig h or 
but tocks if one is bolder. The surprise srna ck, adtnini ster ed in the 
t<. )rm of a sing le resounding slap on the recipient' s rear, is a great 
ice-brt·aker at an oppo rtune nlotnt·nt, tor instanc e when the pt'r­
son targeted is picking son1cth ing up front tht· floor. Tickling . popubr with teenag ers, is also great for grown-ups, because 
the scnsJtion is dt'tinitcly sexuJl. The annpits, the undersides of 
the knet·s, the soles of the feet, the nape of tht· neck, the sides of the torso, and thl.· inner thighs arc n1ost sensitive to tickling. An 
infallible erotic prelude is friendly wrestling. Since this playful 
tussle requires neither a rdl.·rt-c nor rules, a handcuf f hold by the 
stronger partner n1ay easily lead to more interesting activities. A prclin1inary \Vith great physical poten tial is the pillow fight. This bedroor n garnc rnay dissipate any latent sexual hostility and 
at the san1e tirnc bring partners to enjoy erotic play fulnes s. Down 
pillows \Vith no buttons or other hardware attached arc the ideal 
weapons. l)nc can hit the opponen t at various strategic spots with 
great gusto, without causing any real injury, as long as no heavy 
blows reach the face, breasts, or genitals of either partner. As a 
vigorous pillow fight rnay result in a n1ess of flying feathers, one 
might \vant to consider pillows with synthetic or rag stuffing. As for clothing. a coup le rnay start their love -play dressed, 
partly dressed, or undressed, according to their personal taste and 
the whirn of the n1on1ent. Disrobing oneself rapidly bespeaks 
either great urgency or lack of finesse. Sometimes partners' un­
dressing each other can be a potent source of erotic arousal, se­
ductive and titillating. This can be done slowly, in for example a 
gan1e of strip poker, in which the loser of each round must divest 
one or more articles of clothing. PRE SSING ON AT LovE -PLAY 
Whether the prelude lasts the wink of an eye or an hour, or even 
days, the unmistakably sexual love-play that follows often evokes 
all the senses of both partners. This phase of lovemaking consists 
mainly of kissing, hugging, and caressing. These act ivities can 
be enjoyed with endless variations. They involve the entire body, 
and eventually focus on the genital area. Kissing is an effective and essential part of love-play. The 
mouth, lined with soft, pliable tissues including keen tactile and 
taste sensors, is an erotic organ. It is extremely responsive to sex­
ual stin1ulation. The sensitive nerve endings on the lips and tongue 
and elsewhere inside the mouth can react erotically to the touch of 
a lover's lips, tongue, and in moments of passion, teeth. The tac­
tile sensation varies with the arnount of suction used. Since the 
olfactory nerve cells in the nose arc ncar the mouth, the scent of a 
partner's breath, n1outh, and the surrou nding skin is highly ar ous-Tire Alrlu·rny t�( Des ire 
193 ANC IENT SE CR ETS FOR MODERN LOVERS 
194 ing, especially when combined with the very personal taste of lips 
and tongue. In erotic mouth-to-mouth kissing, one touches, tastes, 
and smells a member of the opposite sex; this intimacy is analo­
gous to coitus. The erotic kiss may be as light and fickle as a flitting butterfly, 
or as deep and enduring as the celebrated French kiss, indulged in 
by the young people of Pays de Mont in Brittany, in which lovers 
use their tongues to penetrate and explore one another's mouth, 
sometimes for hours on end. Deep kissing is usually the first undeniably erotic act between 
lovers. Dependi ng on the degree of intimacy and the mood of the 
moment, it often leads to other forms of touching, namely caress­
ing. Experienced lovers who want to arouse and pleasure their 
mates have quite a store of information on this: modern sex­
ologists have enun1erated erogenous zones, and ancient Taoists 
mapped various love points on the body. Any part of the body, 
actually , could be an erogenous zone. Stroking the nape of the 
neck lightly, kissing the sides of the neck, probing the ear open­
ing with a stiff tongue, nibbling the earlobe might bring a partner 
to a high pitch. Other erogenous zones are the armpits; inside the 
elbows, thighs, and knees; at the lower spine; and of course, in the 
genital areas. Some of the love points identified by the ancient 
Taoists coincide with the erogenous zone s, while others do not. Love points are discussed further in chapter 1 5. The sensitivity of the commonly accepted erogenous zones 
differs among individuals; some people, in fact, are completely 
without sensitivity in certain areas. Sotne women's breasts are so 
sensitive that when caressed the won1an n1ay reach an orgastn; 
other won1en n1ay be unarousablc when so caressed. In zones 
generally less sensitiv e than the breast, the reaction is even tnore 
unpredictable. But n1ost people's erogenous zones arc erotically 
sensitive. A careful lover first explores and expcritncnts on these 
areas in love-play to tind the n1ost effective way to arouse and 
pleasure the partner . Sensitivity to t'rotic caresses usually increases 
frotn the extren1ities of lin1bs to the torso, and fron1 the periph­
eral parts of the torso to its tniddlc. Caressing a partner in the 
peripheral areas and progressing to tnore sensitive areas tends to 
create a crescendo of desire. Kissin� naturally nlt'rgt's with caressing in lovt'-pby. With 
sotne exceptions, a good lover docs not zero in on the partner's genitals in the beginning, son1etin1es not even on the breasts. An 
inexperienced or inconsiderate lover, usually the nule, is often 
guilty of heavy-handed love-play. A rough squeeze or two of a 
won1an's breasts, a firn1 grab of her buttocks, and he is ready for 
penetration and dischargt'. Such a crude style turns n1any won1en 
off What turns then1 on, at least in the beginning, arc gentle and 
tender caresses. Energetic, vigorous love-play is effective when 
the partner has been highly stitnulated already. Even nuny tncn 
are aroused n1orc by love-play that titillates and tantalizes. And 
it should be rcrnctnbcrcd that the sight, sound, and scent of an ..__ 
aroused 1natc arc often potent aphrodisiacs. Most won1cn arc highly stimulated by having their breasts ca­
ressed and kissed. There is an in1portant nerve link between a 
woman's lips and her breasts, and another between her breasts and 
her genitals; thus n1outh-to-mouth kissing often makes her nip­
ples become erect, and stin1ulation of her breasts by a lover often 
causes her clitoris to become erect and her sexual juices to flow. A good kiss is, therefore, the start of a delightful "downhill" 
JOUrney. In some passionate women mere psychological reactions may 
make their nipples erect. But most are aroused by a combination 
of psychological factors and the physical love-play at their breasts. A good lover therefore, after kissing and caressing his partner's 
face, neck, and shoulders, will go on to her breasts. When done 
with tender passion, this will greatly arouse his partner. Most women enjoy having their breasts cupped and hefted 
with the palms, lightly stroked around the nipples, rhythmically 
and gently squeezed. They love having their breasts kissed, and 
their nipples sucked and playfully licked with the tip of the tongue. The tongue's underside is smooth, like the lips, and its top is rough. By using the smooth and rough sides alternately, a man can give 
varying sensations to a woman. Only after such exquisitely stim­
ulating preliminaries should he go on to lower areas-buttocks, 
groin, perineum, vulva, clitoris. GENITAL CARE SSING-A ND BEYOND 
Love-play progresses naturally to the genital area. Caressing a lov­
er's genitals-with the hand, the Jnouth, or another part of the Tile Alclu·my l!f Dt·sire 
1�5 ·' N l. I F N T S F C R 1: T S I 0 R M I l I> I� � N I I ) V E H S 
body- is the n1ost passion ate and intimate form of noncoital erotic 
conu nun ication betw een lovers. It may end right there, to be re­
peated some other time; it n1ay result in orgasm; it may lead di­
rectly to coitus. Genital caressing may involve any of a number of tech niq ues : 
stroking, pressing, rubbing, vibrating, tickling, thrusting, kiss­
ing, nibbling, licking, sucking-all carried out with varying pres­
sure, speed, and rhythm. Some people delight in continuous, 
relentless caresses, while others prefer a teasing, repeated stop­
and-go approach. As all these genital organs are made of tender, sensitive tissue, 
genital caressing is best begun with slow, light touches; it may 
then progress to more active, speedier, heavier caresses. Such a 
gradual buildup prepares the participants not only emotionally 
but also physically; among other things, it promotes genital lubri­
cation, without which any heavy, passionate caress would be un­
comfortable, even painful. Different techniques of caressing suit 
different zones of the pubic area. Light strokes and soft kisses are 
most arousing to the insides of the thighs and groin. The cinnabar 
field and a woman's mons veneris respond favorably to the mas­
saging palm. The fleshy derriere can v..'ithstand much heavier ca­
resses, such as kneading , squeezing, and light smacking. Stroking 
the buttocks with an occasional side excursion to the perineum is 
. . qutte arousing. Oral-genital play ranges from lightly kissing a lover's genitals 
to using the mouth and tongue as sexual organs in simulated cop­
ulation. Some people find this thrilling, while others are repelled 
by it. According to recent polls conducted by Redbook and other 
magazines, a large majority of Americans in higher education and 
income groups experiment with or regularly practice cunnilin­
gus, fellatio, and such play. One of the most erotically sensitive zones, and often one of 
the most neglected, is the perineum, the site of a cluster of sexual 
nerve endings. It corresponds to the hui-yin acupoint, which stim­
ulates male erection as well as female desire. Caressing the per­
ineum lightly with the fingers or the tip of the tongue is very 
stimulating. Many think of the anus as solely an excretory organ. Actually, 
it is connected with sexual nerves, some of which are highly 
aroused when the anus-washed very clean-is caressed. The French usc the tenn postillon aJ!t' to describe pressing and poking it 
with a finger, andfeuillede rose (rose leaf) to describe licking it and 
probing into it with the tip of the tongue. Anal caressing is a nut­
ter of personal preference. GENITAL SECRETIONS 
The caressing and the kissing of the genitals inevitably involve 
genital secretions, nature's ingenious preparation for coitus. By lu­
bricating the sexual organs, these secretions facilitate intercourse. As a pheron1one, they also act as a sexual attractant, arousing part­
ners greatly. The ancient Taoists consider ed ample lubrication of 
paramount importance for pleasurable sex. So do modern sexolo­
gists, who suggest substitutes such as saliva or artificial lubricants 
in case of emergency. As with food, natural ingredients are always 
the best. From a scientific point of view, genital secretions are similar 
to saliva. The gen itals, if carefully cleaned, have a lower bacterial 
count than the mouth. Genital secretion from an aroused male comes as a clear, slip­
pery liquid oozing fr om the mouth of the penis. It originates in 
two pea-size glands just beneath the prostate, and several smaller 
ones in the urethra. This secretion is not semen, although if the 
man becomes highly aroused it may contain a small amount. In 
the woman, a similar liquid is emitted from four vestibular glands 
around the vagina opening. Under sexual excitement, the wall 
of the vagina also "sweats" out a liquid, which at times can be 
COpiOUS. The semen ejaculated during male orgasm comes from the 
testicles and the prostate. This sticky, milky fluid becomes more 
liquid soon after exposure to air. As mentioned earlier, sexolo­
gists report that some women ejaculate a fluid when they have a 
deep uterine orgasm. This transparent liquid serves no biological 
function and is believed by some sexologists to enhance sexual 
pleasure. Warning: Unless a couple has had a strictly monogamous rela­
tionship for years, and each partner knows of the other's sexual 
history, and has tested negative for HIV, it is not safe to indulge in 
any love-play or coitus that involves the exchange of bodily fluids. Tilt· Alcllt'my �fD£•sirc 
197 ANCIENT SECR ETS FOR MODERN LOVE RS 
CARESSING THE MooN GROTTO 
Kissing and caressing by her lover normally arc sufficient to 
arouse a woman so that her moon grotto is lubricated and her 
clitoris is erect. Her partner can easily ascertain this by occasional 
quick forays to the vaginal area when he is fondling her thighs and 
buttocks. The clitoris is very sensitive to touch. Its shaft rather 
than its sensitive tip should be caressed; in some women the tip 
can stand only the lightest touch, and a heavy caress could be un­
comfortable. Next are the labia minora, or inner lips, of the vulva. By alternately caressing the clitoris and the vulva, fust lightly, 
then moderately , a man may intensify his partner's pleasure 
rapidly. By stroking along the labia minora and then around 
the rin1 of the vagina opening with his middle and index fin­
gers, he can induce more lubrication to flow. If he scoops up these 
secretions with his fingers, he can rub the shaft of the clitoris 
with them. If the woman spreads her thighs wide, the classics 
indicate, she is responding favorably to the manual love-play. When her partner gets this signal, his fingers can probe deeper 
into her moon grotto. He can intensify her sensations by using 
one or two fingers to go deep, touch her flower heart, and stroke 
it lightly. If the love-play is aimed at the woman's orgasn1, the man 
can bring her to climax by stimulating her clitoris. Son1e won1en 
arc capable of multiple orgasn1s through clitoral stitnulation. A few passionate women can go fron1 orgasn1 to orgastn for a 
considerable tin1e. The nun can bring her to a n1uch ntore in­
tense uterine orgasnt by caressing her G spot; tnany won1en, 
however, appreciate a deep orgasn1 better during coitus, if the 
nun knows the right positions and dynatnics . He can find the 
G spot by inserting his ntiddk and index tingers about two inches 
inside the opening of the grotto. With his fingL'r pads facing 
the front wall of the grotto canal, he tnassagcs exploringly. He 
can tell fron1 the wornan 's rl\Ktion \vhether he has found the 
bean-size spot, which tnay prot rude slightly upon stintulation. l)nce thl·re, he can press the spot lightly and rhythntically . By 
pushing down on her n1ons veneris with the paint of the other 
hand at thl' sante tinH.'. the nun can increase the pressure on the 
(;spot. CARESSING THE jADE STALK 
Caressing the tnalc genitals can be tricky. depl'nding on whether 
the man is to ljaculate or not. If he is not, eithl'r he should be con­
versant with the techniques of orgasn1ic brinknunship. or there 
should be prior agreen1cnt on what signals he should give the 
wotnan to stop as soon as he senses the approach of his crisis. An 
experienced wontan can sensl' when the n1an is ncar the brink 
even without his signaling. and beat a hasty retreat. But since a 
tnan's power to hold back n1ay vary fron1 tirnc to time, it is always 
safer to prearrange son1e signals. Fondling the jade stalk is best done by first lightly stroking 
the perineun 1 with the fingertips. The woman's fingers then move 
softly to the back, bottom, and front of the scrotum with half­
tickling, half-soothing caresses. As the scrotum is the most vul­
nerable part of the man's body, the woman should stroke and 
tickle the testicles delicately . Pinching, squeezing, or nipping them 
is not love-play; it may cause excru ciating pain, injury, or dis­
ability. After fondling the man's testicles, the woman's fingers 
move to his erect stalk. By gripping firmly near the tip with her 
palms and fingers, and moving her grasp toward the base, she 
makes its skin more taut. This exposes and tightens the engorged 
glans, or crown, which she can stimulate with the fingertips of 
the other hand, with short, light to-and-f ro friction. The under­
side of an erect stalk is more sensitive than the upper side, and the 
glans and the ridge around its base are even more sensitive. The 
most sensitive part of the male stalk is the triangular knot-shaped 
frenulum at the underside of the ridge. If there has been lubrication of the glans, the woman can smear 
the secretion with a fingertip in a rotary motion around the glans; 
she can do the same with her own saliva. The woman can vary the 
caress by pumping the shaft up and down with her grasping hand, 
but she must take care not to bring the man to ejaculation, unless 
this is intended. This stop-and-go technique can help the man de­
lay or avoid ejaculation, while giving him great pleasure and rous­
ing him tremendously. If she desires, the woman can supplement her cares sing with 
kissing the stalk. While holding the shaft, she can tentatively kiss 
the glans, then take it from there. Tlu· Alchemy (?f Dt•sire 
11)1) AN CIENT SECRE TS FOR MODERN LOVERS 
Love-play between partners is an extremely intimate and per­
sonal act. It is best tailored by the partners themselves according 
to their aesthetics and desires. They can create their own play of 
love--cotnedy, drama, or fantasy. As the ancient Taoists shrewdly 
found out, by harmonizing Yin and Yang through love-play, a 
couple can augment greatly their sexual energy for a fulfilling 
sexual union. 15 
Spring Butter fly and 
Peacocl� Tease 
Love Games /or Grown-ups Onl y 
PLAYING AT LOVE is most delightful when it is spontaneous and 
whimsic al. At times, however, one can enliven it with some cho­
reography. Love games add variety, excite the imagination, and 
stimulate creativity. Following are suggested love games for mod­
ern lovers, adapted from or inspired by ancient Chinese sexolo­
gists. SPRING BuTTERFLY 
This titillating game was invented by Chinese painters and cal­
ligraphers of yore. It requires a Chinese brush-pen, which has a 
soft, delicate pointed brush of sable, fox, or rabbit hair set in a 
thin bamboo tube. These brushes are available in Oriental sta­
tionery stores and bookstores; if you cannot find one, buy a 
Western-style artist's paintbrush. Avoid "fiat" or "bright" brushes, 
which are square-edged. A "round" brush is serviceable, but the 
best is a "long," or pointed, brush. Avoid also stiff brushes, such 
as those made of hog bristle; camel or squirrel hair is adequate, 
but springy, soft sable is the best. The brush-pen is the butterfly in springtime, and the nude 
body of the passive partner is the flower-covered landscape of 
201 hills and dales. This partner should lie totally relaxed, with eyes 
closed. Apply the springy tip of the brush to the partner's body 
like a flirtatious butterfly-here, there, everywhere. The tip of the 
brush first flits lightly over hands and feet, then moves to arms, 
legs, and other parts of the body. The "artist" concentrates on 
such sensitive spots as the fingertips, the palms, the insides of the 
elbows, the armpits, the soles, between the toes, behind the knees, 
and especially the insides of the thighs. Various parts of the face, 
including the lips, are titillated next. Then down the neck to the 
breasts, the cinnabar field, and the groin. The butterfly touches 
arc delicious to the closed-eyed partner-especially as it is not 
known where they will land next. The tiny, electric spasms cre­
ated on the skin are likely to bring forth a plea for firmer caresses. The artist should not give in to such a plea until the moist landing 
is ready. For this exquisite stage, dip the tip of the brush in a little aro­
matic oil. On a woman, caress her areolas and nipples with the 
oiled brush; go around and around, and flit between the breasts. Next, open her legs and let the butterfly flirt along her perineum 
and vulva. Then brush her clitoris, first in upward strokes, next in 
a circular motion. On a man, brush his perineum and scrotum 
and the exposed glans. You may give your loved one a n1arvelous, 
unforgettable hour with this extraordinary game. A woman with long eyelashes can turn them into spring but­
terflies by blinking at her partner at extrcn1cly close quarters. A 
n1an can con1mandeer his moustache for the san1e purpose. Such 
tnaneuvers n1ay prove exhausting, however, if the whole territory 
is to be covered. PEACOCK TEASE 
This gan1e was invented centuries ago, when the peacock feather 
bcca n1e a decoration of tneri torious serv ice to the etnperor. No­
blcnH. 'n who were interested in a dift crcn t type of tneritorious ser­
vice used a pea coc k feather playfully on their won1en. Nowada ys 
either partn er, tnalc or fenulc, can usc the tcather on the other. feathers frmn ostriches, pheasan ts, storks, and even chickens also 
can be used . He advised that featht'rs do not have as wide a varia­
tion in pressu re as an artist' s brush. SPIDER ·s LEGs 
In this French lovc-gatnc. J'•lftcs d',ml�l! "t;f, the tingt·rtips ;1nd tin­
ger pads play on the par tner's body hair . and occasiona lly skin, 
with the lightest toucht ·s possible. Likt · thl· spring butt erfl y, the 
spider can go all over the body. SILK TEASE 
For this love ganll\ a scarf or ling erie of genuine silk is preferable; 
otherwise soft acetate \vill do. Do not use nylon, as it is too stiff 
Crun1ple the scarf or other iten1 slightly in your hand, and usc it 
to caress various parts of your partner's body. Silk gives a rich, 
luxurious sensation, quite different from that of brush-pens or 
feathers. SNIFF-KISSING 
The snitT-kiss is used here to its full extent if your partner's skin is 
perfumed lightly with crushed jasmine or tuberose, or if your 
partner's body emits its own sexual aroma. Begin by inhaling and 
sniffing the breath of your loved one. Nudge your nose on your 
partner's cheeks, eyelids, and neck, and continue the scented pil­
grimage up the peak and down the valley. The natural scent of 
aroused genitals is a strong aphrodisiac between lovers. ToNGUE SwE EP 
This game may-and quite naturally does-start with a roving 
kiss. The tongue is lavished on a partner with touches ranging 
from the lightest tickling with the tip to a firm brushing with its 
rough surface. Zero in on the ear cavity, under the chin, and the 
palms and soles. Then target the navel, the breasts and nipples, in­
side the thighs, and the perineum. A thorough tongue tease will deplete your supply of saliva, 
no matter how much you may drool. Intersperse the sweep with 
sniff-kisses. 203 A N C I f N T S E C R F T S 1-' ( l R M ( l I > 1; H N I ( ) V fl. I� S 
LovE PoiNTS 
An1ong the most fascinating but least known aspects of ancient 
Chinese erotica is the system of specific acupoints along the body 's 
meridians that when properly stimulated cause immediate sexual 
arousal, long-term boosting of sexual stamina, and/or tunc-up of 
the autonomic nervous system controlling many sexual sensa­
tions and functions. Each of these love points is a carefully mapped 
acupoint in classical acupuncture. Each has an equivalent interna­
tional code number used by Western and other non-Chinese re­
searchers in acupuncture. The hui-yin point on the perineum, for 
example, now carries the international label "CV-1" (number 1 
point of the conception vessel). In traditional acupuncture, most 
of these acupoints have general health as well as sexual functions. The love points are presented here in a very simplified man­
ner, and are selected accor ding to the zones of the body rather 
than a specific meridian. This is for the practical use of modern 
lovers who do not have the time or patience to spend months 
studying such acupoints. The love points can be located on the 
relevant maps on this page and the following two pages; individ­
ual names are given only for selected points. Love points are scattered all over the human body, but the ma­
jority are concentrated on the torso. Acupressure, not acupunc ­
ture, may be used on love points; indeed, some love points should 
never be pricked by needles. Some points may be stroked or gently 
pressed and vibrated with the fingertips, while others may be 
massaged with the palm. It is at times difficult to locate love 
points and other acupoints on the body, but in many cases they 
can be found if finger pressure causes a sensation of tenderness. Partners who want to locate the points, and play the game, should 
study the maps and explore. The game of love points may be played as ongoing, long-term 
therapy for sexual energy, or it may serve as an interlude during 
love-play. Partners may want to combine love-point acupressure 
with erotic massage, discussed later . The major love points are described below, with suggestions 
on how to stimulate them: 
Perineum: The hui-yin (sex crossroads), one of the most important 
love points, is located at the midpoint of the perineum, slightly 
beneath the skin. In acupuncture, it is important in treating penile pain, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, and prolapse of the uterus. For sexual arousal in love-play, the perineum may be stroked and 
the point pressed with a fingertip for 4 seconds, then released and 
pressed again, 40 times or for 5 n1inutes. This point is one of the 
two known erection centers for n1en. Cimzabarji eld: From the navel down to the pubic symphysis (at the 
front of the pubic bone, felt just above the genitals) is a line of 
seven love points. An approximate way to locate them is to con­
sider the distance between the navel and the pubic symphysis as 
five segments, each a little over an inch long. The navel itself has a 
love point. One segment below it is yin-chiao (sexual junction). Half a segment belo w this is chi-ha i (sea of chi), a major love point 
next to the cinnabar field. Half a segment below it is shih-men 
(stone gate). Below it, at the bottom of each of the next three seg­
ments are kuen-yuan (pass of primacy), chung-chi (ultimate mid­
dle), and chu-ku , the pubic bone. These seven front midline love points are intimately linked 
with sexual well-being and sexual desire. During love-play all of 
them should be stroked and pressed with the palm. They should 
be pressed or rubbed lightly-never heavily-with the fingertip, 
the finger pad, or the thumb. Press each time for about 3 to 5 sec­
onds; then release and press again. By moving down from the 
navel to the pubic area, and giving gentle acupressure some 10 
times to each point, one progresses to points of increasing arousal. A firmed-up tongue-tip may be used in place of the finger. Breasts: Love points on the fetnale breasts are both for short-term 
arousal and long-term enlargement. Each of the nipples contains 
a love point. On the breastbone , at the same level of the nipples, is 
another, sometimes called the middle cinnabar field. About an 
inch up from each nipple toward the corresponding shoulder is 
another love point. At the base of the breasts are two more pairs. Except for the point on the breastbone, the love points are to be 
pressed and stroked with the palm and palpated lightly with the 
finger . Groin: About two inches down the crease between the abdomen 
and the thighs arc a pair of love points . louch ing them, by press­
ing lightly and stroking along the groin with the fingertips. may 
alleviate frigidity and imp otence. Spritl.l! Buttc�/ly atrd Peacock Tease 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
y 
Map of lor'e points />:·t.----
,)·r\_ 1 
206 I \ . ·I· . • • 
. . • • 
..,. Map of love poifzts Upp er back: There arc four pairs of love points on the upper back 
that may be stimulated for sexual energy. To locate them, imag­
ine, on either side of the spine, two parallel vertical lines, one 
about 1 1h inches and the other about 3 inches from the spine. The 
top points of these lines align with the lower end of the second 
thoracic vertebra; the bottom ones align with the lower end of the 
fifth thoracic vertebra. Press each point firmly with the fingertips 
for a few seconds; then release. Move to the next point. Repeat the 
acupressure trip a few times. Lower back: Immediately below the second lumbar vertebra, right 
on the spine and a little below the back of the waist, is ming-men 
(life gate), an important point for sexual energy and the second 
erection center for the male. Press this love point firmly with the 
fingertips for what should be satisfying results. At the same level 
as this point, on either side of the spine, are two more love points, 
about 1 1h and 3 inches from the spine. They should be pressed 
along with the life gate. Sacral-coccygeal area: Press firmly with the fingertips on the eight 
love points lined up in a narrow Von the sacrum. A ninth point is 
on the tip of the coccyx. Thighs and legs: On the front of each thigh, about midway be­
tween the kneecap and the groin, are two love points. About two 
inches above the kneecap, at the bulge of muscles slightly toward 
the inside, is another point. These n1ay be pressed finnly with the 
thumb. Lower le. {!s: The most irnportant love point on the lower leg is san­
yin-chiao (junction of three Yins), which is on the inside of the 
shin, about three inches above the apex of the tncdialrnalleolus, 
behind the tibia. Pressure on this point n1ay alleviate impotence, 
frigidity , and pren1atun: ejaculation. EROTIC MAS SAGE 
One of the n1ost sensual gantes in love-play is erotic massage. The 
three-t housan d-y ear-old Chint ·se n1assag e is aitncd not so tnuch 
at the rnusclcs as at the chi rneridians and the central nervous sys-t<. 'tll, which controls both body and n1ind. This venerable classical 
therapy, when specially adapted f(lr certain areas of the body by a 
beloved tnate, can intensify the akhetny of desirl' delightfully. Nun1erous volutnes have been written on this therapeutic art. which requires cotnplicated techniques and tnuch practice to be 
truly d1cctive . A book of this scope, therefore. wi II not pretend 
to cover whole-body erotic nussage. Rather, a few sitnple tech­
niques arc presented. and several areas of the body where erotic 
massage works best arc highlig hted. Couples who con1bine these 
nussage techniques with the gan1c of love points on the preced­
ing pages will obtain even greater eftccts . Some ground rules: Since n1assage is a tonn of nonverbal 
con1n1unication, an unspoken rapport is established between two 
individu als through the intin1ate contact of hands and body. In 
erotic n1assage, the partners are preferably nude or almost nude, 
to facilitate the skin-to-skin exchange of life-force and sexual en­
ergy. All parts of the body, except the genitals, may be touched. Most areas may be massaged firmly except those vulnerable to in­
jury (e.g., abdomen, female breasts), where gentle stroking is the 
basic touch. The partner being massaged should lie on a floor 
mat, a narrow table, a daybed, or a bed with an extrafirm mat­
tress. Massage can be done without lubricant or, if preferred, with 
scented water or oil. A good homemade lubricant is a mixture of 
two-thirds soybean oil, one-third sesame oil, and a sprinkling of 
aromatic essence such as lavender, chamomile, rose, sandalwood, 
or ylang-ylang. Sesame oil is very good for the skin; ylang-ylang, 
from a tropical Asian flower, is consider ed an aphrodisiac and has 
a positive effect on blood pressure. Oils are available in Chinese 
groceries; aromatic essences from natural food stores and phar­
mactes.
vdoc.pub_the-yin-yang-butterfly-ancient-chinese-sexual-secrets-for-western-lovers.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        The nerves control the tnotor activity of these n1uscles, 
conununicate sensations to the brain, and are responsible tor the 
rhythmi c con tractions of sexual organs during orgasn1. A1uscl t·s th,u,,ll't' the cert>ix 
inl'(lluntan'l>' ---------r�H---ft�cs�-. -.
The exercise is designed to invigorate the cinnabar field, stimulate the digestive organs, and facilitate the circulation of chi.
What is the purpose of the Cinnabar Field Massage exercise?
The perineum is crucial in Taoist sexology, and the front midline meridian and the back midline meridian meet at this point, making it a key area for sexual arousal and orgasmic brinkmanship.
What is the significance of the perineum in Taoist sexology?
The exercise is designed to stimulate the saliva glands and aid digestion.
What is the purpose of the Saliva Fountain exercise?
The exercise aims to stimulate the sacrum and coccyx, which control movements and sensations throughout the lower limbs and genital and anal areas.
What is the primary goal of the Kitten Stretch exercise?
The kiss is an essential part of love-play, and it is crucial for the partner to be aware of the other's reactions and preferences to ensure mutual satisfaction.
What is the purpose of the erotic kiss?