Unveiling the Deep-Rooted Younger Sister-In-Law Complex in Chinese Men

Recently, the reappearance of a famous entertainer's younger sister-in-law has caused a stir in the streets and alleys, and the younger sister-in-law has immediately become a topic of lively conversation for people. Why does the younger sister-in-law attract extraordinary attention? This undoubtedly has much to do with the deep-rooted "younger sister-in-law complex" in Chinese men. Then, what kind of "younger sister-in-law complex" do Chinese men have? And why can such a "younger sister-in-law complex" be deeply embedded in the bones of Chinese men? This still needs to be traced back to a movie from the 1990s.

This is a movie that once strongly stimulated the nerves of Chinese men, it is also a movie that a wife would rather die than let her husband watch, but it is a movie that men would rather die than not see. The name of the movie is "After Divorce, Don't Look for Me Again." In fact, the reason why this movie strongly stimulates the nerves of Chinese men is because it tells a story of an improper relationship between a younger sister-in-law and her brother-in-law. A movie without any erotic scenes or exposure of dark secrets, why does it cause a life-and-death family war between men and women? There is only one reason: it bursts the bubble of the relationship between a brother-in-law and a younger sister-in-law. And this bubble has covered China for thousands of years.

A younger sister-in-law is the younger sister of one's wife! Judging from the literal meaning, it has some flavor of a wife and some flavor of a younger sister; it has the warmth of a wife's appearance and voice, and the obedience and intimacy of a younger sister. In the hearts of Chinese men, a younger sister-in-law is a feeling of being half-wife and half-sister. Therefore, a younger sister-in-law has always been a man's sensual dream outside of his wife. In fact, a younger sister is the younger sister of one's wife, because one's child calls her "aunt", over time, this title has formed. Corresponding to the title of younger sister-in-law is brother-in-law. People often say, there is no difference between a brother-in-law and a younger sister-in-law, which means they are of the same generation, their relationship is relatively close, and there is no need for stiffness and solemnity. It is precisely because of this historical-established relationship that makes those women who have blood relations with men's wives become the "prey" for men to satisfy their possessive desires, and this phenomenon has never been interrupted from ancient times to the present.

Tracing back to the ancient times of Yao and Shun, Shun, a hero of the era, was the earliest recorded historical figure with a "younger sister-in-law complex". He married two daughters of Shun: Ehuang and Nüying. The book "Biographies of Exemplary Women" records this history: "The two consorts of Youyu were the two daughters of Emperor Yao, the elder Ehuang and the younger Nüying." Thus, the two sisters served one husband, lived in peace, complemented each other, and became a thousand-year-old good story of adding more intimacy on top of already close relationships. With a brilliant start by the ancient sage, later generations of men had legitimate reasons for possession, and even called it the "example of a sage."

In the Han Dynasty, after Emperor Chengdi Liu Ao married Zhao Feiyan, a beauty of unparalleled charm, he was still unsatisfied. Once, when he glimpsed Zhao Feiyan's younger sister Zhao Hede, he became so infatuated that he could not control himself, thus dreaming day and night about possessing his younger sister-in-law. The extremely intelligent Zhao Feiyan had her own little calculations: since emperors throughout history have always been fickle, no woman can enjoy all the emperor's favor, rather than sharing his favor with other women, she might as well let her own younger sister share a piece of the pie. Thus, Zhao Hede officially served her brother-in-law.

After Liu Ao became infatuated with his younger sister-in-law, every night in the lotus bed, the imperial grace was like spring. In the jade quilt, the concubine's feelings were like water. Her panting breaths, if unable to bear the emotions, her drunken eyes, captivating souls, eventually led to his death in the "land of gentleness" of his younger sister-in-law. Zhao Hede should be considered the most powerful younger sister-in-law in history, directly causing her brother-in-law to die between her "jade breasts."

Emperor Chengdi of the Han Dynasty dying in the "land of gentleness" of his younger sister-in-law became the biggest scandal in history, while the illicit affair between Li Yu, the last ruler of Southern Tang, and his younger sister-in-law became a timeless tale. In Li Yu's poem "Bodhisattva Mantra," the scene of the illicit affair between the brother-in-law and the younger sister-in-law is described in a way that conveys an indescribable sensuality: "Among the flowers under the moonlight veiled in light mist, tonight I will go to my brother-in-law! Walking barefoot on the fragrant steps, holding golden embroidered shoes. Seeing him at the south side of the painted hall, trembling as I lean against him. It's hard for me to come out, so let you indulge in your affection."

This is undoubtedly a natural and pure love confession of a charming girl whose heart has just opened: On a night full of spring flowers and misty moonlight, I am heading to the place where I secretly meet my brother-in-law. Afraid of waking others in such a quiet night, I take off my golden embroidered shoes, hold up my skirt, and step lightly on the flower-covered stone steps. Arriving at the south side of the painted hall, I finally see my brother-in-law and immediately fall into his arms. The uneasiness in my heart lingers for a long time. This feeling contains both the fear of being discovered and the excitement of falling in love. I deliberately coquettishly tell my brother-in-law, knowing how hard it is for me to come out, tonight I will give myself completely to you, letting you enjoy it fully.

Compared to the luxurious and obscure relationship between brothers-in-law and younger sisters-in-law in ancient royal families, the relationship between them in folk society is more direct and vulgar. A younger sister-in-law is a brother-in-law's intimate little sweater, and half of a brother-in-law's buttocks belong to the younger sister-in-law. Most men with a younger sister-in-law show meticulous care and affection towards her, making the wife jealous.

I remember a widely known Xinjiang folk song with lyrics that sing: "If you are going to marry, don't marry anyone else, you must marry me. Bring your dowry, bring your younger sister, drive the cart here!..." What a direct interpretation of men's "younger sister-in-law complex"! "Bring your younger sister and marry together!" The greed and possessiveness of men towards women are revealed instantly.

For thousands of years, why do Chinese men always want to get their hands on their younger sister-in-laws? What causes make younger sister-in-laws become men's lingering dreams? Someone has summarized four major reasons, which seem reasonable. They reflect the social status of younger sister-in-laws and also explain the complex psychology of men's strong possessiveness.

First Major Reason: Younger sister-in-laws are younger and prettier than their sisters.

Generally, in people's biased eyes, younger sisters are usually prettier than their older sisters. Most fairy tales portray younger sisters as both beautiful and kind, while older sisters are less attractive. Moreover, "preferring new things and tiring of old ones" is a common ailment among all men, and people always have curiosity to explore "new territories." Therefore, it becomes commonplace for men to like young and beautiful "younger sister-in-laws." Besides, younger sister-in-laws generally carry the shadow of their older sisters. Men can find the gentle demeanor of their older sisters in younger sister-in-laws, which is why men consider younger sister-in-laws as tender and fragrant "Tang Seng meat." Even younger sister-in-laws who are uglier than their wives are still considered delicacies in the eyes of their brothers-in-law.

Second Major Reason: Younger sister-in-laws are simple and easy to deceive due to their lack of experience.

When Li Yu seduced his younger sister-in-law, the girl was only fifteen years old. At the age of blossoming youth, a girl naturally harbors various fantasies about men, and "brothers-in-law" around the same age easily become dream lovers for these girls. Due to their naivety and ignorance, "younger sister-in-laws" often have little guard against relatives around them. However, men with a "younger sister-in-law complex" are already seasoned in understanding women's psychology, and they can easily lure these young girls into their traps. Even if the wife and mother-in-law find out, they probably cannot do anything about it. No woman doesn't know the principle that both sides of the hand are flesh.

Third Major Reason: Younger sister-in-laws have no direct blood relation with oneself.

In real life, most men still have basic conscience. Those who touch their mothers, their own daughters, and their own sisters are just a small minority - they will be struck by lightning. But touching a younger sister-in-law with no blood relation is different. "Brothers-in-law" often take advantage of the proximity and seize opportunities quickly and ruthlessly. Proverbs like "Younger sister-in-law, half wife," and "Younger sister-in-law's buttocks, half belongs to the brother-in-law," are not entirely baseless.

Fourth Major Reason: The cost and risk of seducing a younger sister-in-law are low.

When a man gets tired of looking at his wife, although he may have the desire to flirt with other women, most men do not dare to try - because most Chinese men are extremely smart and cunning. They calculate the consequences of their actions: exploring and developing "new territories" in other women involves great risks, requiring a lot of money and effort. If not careful, it may result in "losing both chickens and rice" or "losing both the wife and soldiers" - losing the newly expanded "territory" while setting fire to one's own backyard. But if one targets the younger sister-in-law, the "risk" is much smaller. From the perspective of "extramarital costs," having an affair with a younger sister-in-law is truly a low-cost, low-risk deal: first, the younger sister-in-law is a family member with no blood relation. The brother-in-law has many chances to cater to her preferences and build closer relationships during daily interactions. Moreover, this kind of "extramarital affair" mixed with familial ties is less likely to be noticed by others, allowing for offensive strategies; secondly, generally, sisters have good relationships, and even if the seduction fails, the younger sister-in-law, considering the protection of her older sister's feelings, usually tolerates or forgives the brother-in-law's inappropriate behavior, avoiding too much embarrassment for the brother-in-law, allowing for defensive strategies; thirdly, from the wife's psychological perspective, most wives adopt a tolerant attitude towards such "embarrassing incidents," "family shame should not be exposed," "retreat leads to broader horizons," as both are the closest people to her, breaking the bone but still connected by tendons.

Of course, behind the "younger sister-in-law complex" of Chinese men, it also reflects a cultural inertia in gender relationships. Since ancient times, China has had the tradition of "more children, more blessings," so having seven or eight sisters in a family is quite normal, which makes the probability of Chinese men becoming brothers-in-law quite high. In a closed society at that time, the scope of interaction between men and women was severely restricted, and strangers of opposite sexes were constrained by the concept of "no physical contact." This made it almost impossible for ancient men to have extramarital affairs except for seducing younger sister-in-laws. The idea of "more children, more blessings" in Chinese culture also makes the probability of men becoming brothers-in-law extremely high. Conversely, locked-up younger sister-in-laws, wanting to understand the secrets of male-female love, playing with springtime thoughts or committing adultery, the brother-in-law is undoubtedly the most possible and suitable choice, with timing, geographical advantages, and harmony, it is difficult for Chinese brothers-in-law not to think about younger sister-in-laws. However, it is not hard to see from behind the "younger sister-in-law complex" of Chinese men: how utilitarian, selfish, and sinister men are when dealing with the relationship with younger sister-in-laws!