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Kama Sutra and Sex in Ancient Asia. Laura Williamson Alysa Strenke. Sex in Ancient Times. India. India ~ Brief History. Around 4000 BC, first evidence of sexual attitudes Buddhism Hinduism Jainism Sex Education through art and literature Treated sex like a science. Cont.
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Kama Sutra and Sex in Ancient Asia Laura Williamson Alysa Strenke
Sex in Ancient Times India
India ~ Brief History • Around 4000 BC, first evidence of sexual attitudes • Buddhism • Hinduism • Jainism • Sex Education through art and literature • Treated sex like a science
Cont. • Influenced other cultures • 19th Century – Indian people picked up conservative views.
Kama Sutra It’s not just about sex
A Brief Overview • 450 BC • Vatsyayana • Translated by Sir Richard Burton • First written in Sanskrit • It’s not just about tantric philosophy • 7 smaller books within it
Goals of Life • Dharma – “conduct” • Artha – “material goods and economic interests” • Kama – “entertainment and pleasure” • Moksha – “escape from rebirth”
Book 1 ~ General Observations • Contains the index • Basic introduction
Book 2 ~ Sex • Size – Does it matter? • Pleasuring a woman • Embracing, Kissing, Slapping, and Scrapping Nails • Sexual Positions
Book 3 ~ Acquisition of a Wife • Betrothal and marriage • Creating confidence in the girl • Courtship, showing feelings outwardly • How to win over members of the opposite sex • Certain forms of marriage
Book 4 ~ Wives • Behaving in the husband’s absence • Multiple wives
Book 5 ~ Other Men's Wives • Women’s reactions to men • Gaining women over • Women’s minds • Keeping one’s own wives
Book 6 ~ Prostitutes • Relationships with the men • No obligation for money • How they get money
Book 7 ~ Attracting Others • Personal adornment and other things that attract others • Creating desire in others
Conclusion • It’s not all about sex! • As you read the Kama Sutra remember… • Some things we do not consider socially right. • Its more about ethics and living a good life
Sources: • Burton, Sir Richard. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana. New York: Hippocrene Books • Doniger, Wendy, and Sudhir Kakar. Kamasutra. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. • Keay, John. India a History. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2002 • Krishan, Y. "The Erotic Sculptures of India." Artibus Asiae Publishers 341972 331-343. 24 Nov 2008 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3249625>. • Puri, Jyoti. "Concerning "Kamasutras": Challenging Narratives of History and Sexuality." The University of Chicago Press 272002 603-639. 24 Nov 2008 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3175887>. • Robb, Peter. A History of India. New York: Palgrave, 2007 • Tammita-Delgoda, Sinharaja. A Traveller’s History of India. North Hampton: Interlink Books, 2007