The Sixty Four
There are two references to the 'sixty four' in the
Kamasutra. There are the sixty four arts of love which provides a list
of things to learn in order to become a better lover such as cookery,
teaching parrots to talk and bookbinding!
The second part on love play is divided into elements
and opinion is divided as to why this part of the Kamasutra
is referred to as the 'sixty four' elements. Some believe it to mean 64 chapters, others
believe it to mean 64 verses and still others see it as 8 subjects
subdivided into a further 8 and that 8 multiplied by 8 equals 64.
Whatever the true meaning of the term, the 'sixty four'
is a description of the elements of foreplay and intercourse. The eight
main subjects in this guide are titled;
-
Embraces
-
Kissing
-
Scratching
-
Biting
-
Methods of Intercourse
-
Striking
-
Female Dominance
-
Fellatio
It is these areas of the Kamasutra that give rise to its
infamy as the elements deal directly with the art of sex. The first four
concentrating mainly on methods of foreplay, weighted greatly towards
satisfying and understanding the woman. The element on Copulation deals
primarily with penetration and gave rise to later works of 'illustrated'
positions.
It can be argued that to rely upon the sixty four as the
essence of the sacred text is detrimental to the worth of the work as a
whole; conversely it is likely that without the sixty four, the
Kamasutra would not be a familiar work 1700 years after its completion.
The eight elements are examined in the following
chapters. Whilst reading these chapters it should be noted that many
cultural differences and social attitudes were commonplace in ancients
India. The Kamasutra is however careful to point out, at many points,
that these differences should be taken into consideration.
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