Talk:Ho/@comment-71.175.1.63-20120521232110/@comment-4076672-20120522025232

Because Asian storytelling often places emphasis on the person himself, than what he looks like. Not like the shallow mentality of 21st century middle class who sometimes think they're so freaking great just because they copied the values of the aristocracy and think themselves fit to behave like the King or Queen. :P No wait, just call it "shallow humans".

Furthermore,androgyny is rooted in some of these Asian cultures... something like the perfect balance of "yin and yang"(female and male) for some of them. I can't say more 'cos I don't study history and can't explain if things like Taoism or whatever school of thought, may have travelled to the Korean region in ancient times.

Whatever it may be, in some of those cultures, they were seen as the perfect human. Of course, that depended on whether the Ruler viewed them favourably, placed limits on their behaviour or well... had them executed or tortured in order to make them "more male or female". Yes, torture because humans are known for barbarism and savagery.

And the main reason why some of those Asian cultures became much more masculine, anti-androgyny and "anti-homosexuality" was because the Europeans came along, were utterly disgusted and shoved their own "Victorian values" upon them and might even have tried to execute people. Of course, the Asians in power wanted to "save face" so they pandered to some extent, I suppose. =P

In other words, if you're a reader who's used to themes of masculinity where even the woman wants to be a man, well... it'll probably surprise or shock you. But that's Asian writing itself... greyish and rocking the line in between black and white.