Discovered in the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng of Zhongshan (Western Han Dynasty, 113 BC), the Double Dildo and Two Stone Eggs stand as remarkable examples of both funerary art and ancient sexual aids. These artifacts reflect the Han belief that pleasures of life, including sexuality, extended into the afterlife. Scholars suggest they may have been used to strengthen sexual muscles, allowing for intimacy and training independent of a partner.
Beyond their function, the find provides rare insight into the private lives of the Han elite, showing how sexuality, ritual, and status intertwined.
Sexuality in the Han Dynasty
The Han era (206 BC – 220 AD) was marked by a diverse and relatively tolerant approach to sexuality, especially among the nobility. While Confucianism stressed filial duty and the continuation of family lineage, sexual conduct was not judged solely on procreation. This allowed room for relationships outside marriage, including same-sex partnerships.
Many emperors were known to have male lovers. The most famous case is Emperor Ai’s devotion to Dong Xian, remembered in the phrase “the cut sleeve” — a metaphor for deep male companionship. Unlike in later dynasties, such relationships were not stigmatized as effeminate or immoral, but instead regarded as private aspects of life at court.
Evidence also suggests that women engaged in homoerotic relationships, though historical accounts are less detailed than those of men. Taoist and Social Dimensions
Some Taoist groups incorporated sexual practices as spiritual exercises, precursors to what later became Taoist sexual yoga. Among the wealthy and royal elite, male concubines were as accepted as female ones, reflecting the harem-like systems of power and pleasure. Archaeological Significance
The Double Dildo and Stone Eggs highlight how sexuality was woven into both daily life and afterlife rituals. These objects not only illustrate the openness of Han elite culture but also challenge modern assumptions about ancient attitudes toward sex.
Today, replicas of such artifacts may be found in museum collections, gift shops, and specialized historical stores, while the original remains preserved at the National Museum of China, Beijing.
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