ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the cultural phenomenon of danmei fiction writing/reading – arguably the most controversial genre of Internet literature. Danmei fiction centres on the homoerotic relationship between two male protagonists, but I draw on A Tale of Jujube Valley to show how danmei creators and readers, sometimes referred to as “rotten girls,” have created a digital literary community that is not solely focused on homosocial and homosexual content. My analysis of the sub-genre of danmei farming fiction details the different ways danmei has become an important literary practice for reflecting on contemporary issues such as human-nature relations and the renegotiation of gender values.
