Love in China features a number of characteristics which are connected with Chinese history and the cultural heritage:

(1) Love, as any other passion, was generally viewed with suspicion by orthodox ideologies, regardless of whether they were Confucianism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, or Communism. Excessive love, which was equated with sensual desire, was seen as a threat to the institutions.

(2) Neo-Confucianism was not in principle opposed to feelings, as long as they conformed to the institutions; often it defined itself as different from Buddhist a…