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Taboo subject

Because of his academic specialty, Ma was first drawn to collecting sex-related artifacts in the late 1990s. So far, he has collected more than 2,000 pieces in total.

"The most expensive cost me 100,000 yuan ($16,000)," he said.

Aged 68, Ma wears casual shorts and looks a little shy, but he talks about his work and his collection with supreme ease.

In his career, he has treated more than 20,000 patients with sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, low libido and premature ejaculation, and is the only Chinese sex therapist to have been recognized by the American Board of Sexology and Sex Therapists.

"I've never sold a single item from my collection, despite the occasional high offer, and my only wish has always been to find a permanent home where they can be appreciated by the public. That wasn't easy, though, given that sex remains a taboo subject in China," he said.

Thanks to cooperation between Ma and the Population and Family Planning Administration of Beijing's Shijingshan district, the museum, which comprised roughly half of Ma's collection, opened in 2003 on the fourth floor of the administration's office building.

"Their work is associated with sexual and reproductive health and, most importantly, the administration was the only institute in the capital willing and able to accept the pieces and facilitate the exhibition," explained Ma.

However, he conceded that the exhibits had been subjected to censorship by the administration before going on display.

An administration official surnamed Li said the museum has received tens of thousands of visitors, mainly as part of group tours, although individuals were allowed in the very early days.

Li emphasized that he prefers the name "Exhibition of Sexuality and Reproductive Health", rather than "Sex Museum".

"It was free, but visitors had to be older than 18 and had to make a group reservation before arriving," he said.

Ma added that the museum was actually not fully open to the public and said that most visitors were staff members from the population administration, scholars in related fields, and newly married couples.

"We intended to maintain a low profile and seldom promoted the exhibition because we were not sure whether society was ready to accept it," he said.

"Actually too much attention was not good for it at all," he added, recalling the chaos that reigned when the museum opened in October 2003 and more than 200 people swarmed into the exhibition hall, which only had room for 100.

"A glass pane from a case housing one of the objects was smashed," he said, recalling how the chaotic opening day resulted in the museum closing almost immediately.

Since it reopened in early 2004, the museum has only accepted group reservations.

 

Author： 　　　Source：People's Daily　　　 Editor：Wu Qiong