This Week in Anime

The Danmei Controversy

Coop
Y'know, Chris... Since Lucas and Steve looked into the bad romance-filled world of K-comics earlier this week, let's head slightly westward to talk about one of the hottest genres coming out of China these days: danmei. While most might see it as simply Chinese BL, it's far more sprawling than they might expect. Be it sci-fi, fantasy, manhua, donghua, novels, or even live-action dramas, every consumable form is on fire in English-speaking spaces. However, as danmei analyst baiwu-jinji has recently reported, as that popularity grows, the authors of these stories are increasingly targeted by Chinese obscenity laws.

Current events in the United States aren't exactly helping the mood either. After you think a few things over regarding Danmei (especially considering that it's Pride Month, too), it's hard not to make a few chilling connections.

That presents a troubling dichotomy between how it's viewed internationally and domestically. For instance, publishers like Seven Seas are making a concerted effort to get the biggest names in danmei (especially the works of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, better known as MXTX) officially out in English.

In the case of MXTX's Heaven's Official Blessing, fans can eat up the original novels, Crunchyroll's Blu-ray release of the donghua, and even shirts at Hot Topic. As a "ye old," once you're in Hot Topic, you've made it into the wider mainstream consciousness. If your dead mall still has one.

It's concerning that one of China's hottest cultural exports has become the latest product to sell internationally while its creators are in the crosshairs for simply writing it. These legal actions aren't new, either. ANN reported on the sentencing of a danmei author back in 2018.

Aside from my dated reference to Hot Topic, it was a little under a year ago that I noticed danmei blossoming around me. While running around Houston with a friend last year, I noticed the occasional person reading through a danmei novel. Be it at a restaurant or a boba shop, I'd seen a cover filled with long-haired pretty boys in ornate robes more than once.

However, I recognized something our wonderful editor, Rebecca Silverman, confirmed for me later. Similarly to Japanese BL, danmei appears to be primarily made for women and by women. With that in mind, it's not exactly a great portrayal of queer experiences, from what I've been made aware of. Danmei's more about the thrill of spicy, forbidden love and less about the meatier aspects of it. But I hear that spice is pretty "meaty" to begin with, if you know what I mean.

The best comparison point for Western audiences might be those steamy romance novels you've seen your aunt try to sneak into her cart at the grocery store.

You'd need a white bar over the offending member for that kind of censorship.

I'm a proponent of digging into these more prickly topics if it can help out the people we're talking about. However, we're just a couple of dudes thousands of miles from where everything is happening. I might not have certain lived experiences, but I do my damndest to do right by folks with those experiences.

Especially because that disconnect we've been pulling at seems to run a bit deeper at this point in the story. After reviewing baiwu-jinji's reporting, danmeinews.com's coverage, and Rebecca's scholarly research into danmei, I got the impression that the solidarity we'd like to see doesn't seem to be there domestically. In that, while authors are out there writing transgressive and boundary-pushing stories, they're largely disconnected from China's own LGBTQ+ community. But on our side of the planet (which we have a little insight into), I can see danmei perhaps bridging those gaps as Japanese BL titles have done over time. However, we've got to keep in mind that between these three countries (China, the USA, and Japan), the political realities of just existing as a queer person vary wildly.

Absolutely! That article is probably the best and most succinct breakdown of the situation as it currently stands. Speaking of what we can see heading stateside, you better believe that if manga has already been targeted, the danmei in your public library might be in the same boat.

Especially when you consider the American book-banning fixation on queer literature.

And as I've stated in my article, librarians (and general readers, too) would appreciate it if the publishers of these works did a bit more to push back on these challenges aside from just individual employee action.

Speaking from the cynical "number go up" perspective, it would also guarantee that you'd have more loyal, ride-or-die customers...

That raises the troubling idea that if one of these authors becomes successful and their work reaches an international audience, they might be seen as disposable to a publisher. After all, there is so much danmei being produced that someone in a high-level position might say, "Ah, they got arrested. On to the next one." I hate thinking this way, but the gravity of this situation naturally raises uncomfortable thoughts like this.

To reiterate my reporting, that same concern arose while I spoke with librarians. Especially if the publishers give in to these demands first, thinking it'll be safer for their business. Between those conversations and our own, it seems to me that it's a concern that can broadly be applied to queer and transgressive works on the whole.

That's an amazing point, Chris. The people targeting queer material do not care if it's a respectful representation or not—they just want it gone. It's why standing behind danmei, BL, and any queer stories is important, even if it's not perfect. And let's be honest, many forms of representation can be flawed, but it opens up the avenue for a deeper, good-faith conversation with those willing to have it.

We can only really speak to what we can do here stateside. But to echo those librarians one last time... Get involved locally when you can—build communities, attend town hall meetings if need be, and join in on advocacy efforts. But more important than anything, keep enjoying these works in any way, shape, or form you prefer! Be it buying the books, borrowing them from your library, or watching the TV adaptations. It all sends the message that you want to see danmei (and other queer stories) stick around.

Even if it's not the ideal solution, folks must stick together and support each other as best they can.