Li Yu (, given name: ?? Xi?nl?; style name: ?? Lìw?ng) (1610...1680) was a Chinese playwright, novelist and publisher. Born in Rugao, he lived in late-Ming and early-Qing dynasties.
Li was an actor, producer, and director as well as a playwright, who traveled with his own troupe. His play F?ngzh?ng wù (???, "Errors caused by the Kite") remains a favourite of the Chinese Kun opera stage.
Li is the presumed author of Ròu pútuán (???, "The Carnal Prayer Mat"), a well-crafted comedy and a classic of Chinese erotic literature. He also wrote a book of short stories called Shí'èr lóu (???, "Twelve Towers"). In his time he was widely read, and appreciated for his daringly innovative subject matter. He broaches the topic of same-sex love in the tale Cuìy? lóu (???, "House of Gathered Refinements"). This is a theme which he revisits in the collection Wúsh?ng xì (???, "Silent Operas" i.e. "novels").
The famous painting manual Jieziyuan Huazhuan was prefaced and published by Li in Jinling.
Patrick Hanan (1988). The Invention of Li Yu. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-46425-7.
Patrick Hanan (1996). The Carnal Prayer Mat. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1798-2.
Patrick Hanan (1998). Tower for the Summer Heat. New York : Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-11384-6.
Nathan K Mao (1979). Twelve towers : short stories. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press. ISBN 962-201-170-5.
Jacques Dars (2003). Au gré d'humeurs oisives : Les carnets secrets de Li Yu : un art du bonheur en Chine. Arles : Editions Philippe Picquier. ISBN 2-87730-664-X
Jou-pu-tuan : Andachtsmatten aus Fleisch ; e. erot. Roman aus d. Ming-Zeit. Frankfurt am Main : Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag. ISBN 3-596-22451-9. 1986.
LI?YU Jeou-P'ou-T'ouan, la chair comme tapis de prière, translated by Pierre Klossowski; Éditions Jean-Jacques Pauvert, Paris, 1979
Li Yu: À mari jaloux, femme fidèle, by Pascale Frey 1998