Erotic art is an eminent part of the cultural heritage of ancient China, and was already flourishing in pre-Imperial times. With its peak during the late-Ming period, this art remained a fixed feature in Chinese literature and visual arts until well into the 20th century. At its best, Chinese erotic art is a search for beauty in all its manifestations, for not only does it offer stimulation, it provides a source of great aesthetic pleasure. It never presents sex in a crude or pornographical way, but within a framework of beauty and harmony, enhanced with details of a profound or symbolic nature. DREAMS OF SPRING presents for the first time the treasures of one of the world's most important collections of Chinese erotic art. The text and descriptions in this book are the result of many years of scholarly research by one of the principal authorities in this field; Rev. Yimen, who studied Chinese history and literature at the major universities of China, before devoting herself to this neglected field of China's spiritual traditions. "At its best, Chinese erotic art is a search for beauty in all its manifestations, for not only does it offer stimulation, it provides a source of great aesthetic pleasure. It never presents sex in a crude or pornographical way, but within a framework of beauty and harmony, enhanced with details of a profound or symbolic nature. Dreams of Spring presents for the first time the treasures of the Bertholet Collection, one of the world's most important surviving collections of Chinese erotic art. Many of the pictures reproduced are unique in their style and content, and have never been published before."