The Eighteen Touches ( Chinese: 十八摸; pinyin: shí bā mō) is a traditional Chinese folk song with many variants throughout China. The song is flirtatious, bawdy and erotic in nature, considered vulgar and tasteless, and has been banned numerous times. [1]
There are male, female, and duet variants. Some versions start with a touch of the hair, followed by the nape, with each subsequent touch becoming more intimate. The female versions often feature an attempted seduction through offering to allow a man to touch her in various places; some male versions a seduction through promising some reward if she allows him to touch her there. The duets pair each offered or threatened touch with a consequence, e.g. "...I can't touch you there, if I do you'll die of bliss."
The song has appeared in Chinese literature, especially in books that feature the common people, such as Mo Yan's White Cotton. It is a favourite of Jin Yong's fictional character Wei Xiaobao. It also provides the inspiration for one of the main themes of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. [2]
As a living folk song, new variants continue to appear. For example, salacious details from recent news stories are incorporated to mock officials and current events with sexual innuendo.
References
- ^ "- Cantonese Opera Records - The Audio Collection". www.historymuseum.ca. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Sheppard, Anthony (June 15, 2012). "Music Box as Muse to Puccini's 'Butterfly'". New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
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