Revealing the Debauched Lives of Ancient Government Prostitutes

The concept of prostitutes in Chinese history seems broader than what we refer to and understand nowadays. Experts believe that there were two major categories of prostitutes in Chinese history, which could be further divided into five categories. In general, there were geisha (artist courtesans) and those who sold sexual favors. The former mainly engaged in artistic performances, similar to today's cultural and entertainment professionals or celebrities; the latter primarily sold their physical charms, akin to what people commonly regard as prostitutes today.