Shunamitism

Abishag the Shunamite tends to aging David, c. 1435

Shunamitism (also referred to as gerocomy^[1]) is the practice of an old man sleeping with, but not necessarily having sex with, a young virgin to preserve his youth. It is considered an esoteric youth-enhancing method.^[2] The rationale was that the heat and moisture of the young woman would transfer to the old man and revitalize him.^[3]

The term is based on the biblical story of King David and Abishag. The young woman, who was from Shunem, was also referred to as a Shunammite.^[4] When King David was old and could not stay warm, his servants found Abishag to sleep with him, though he had no intimate relations with her: therefore, she was still a virgin.^[5]

Among scientific physicians, Thomas Sydenham (17th century) prescribed shunamitism for his patients. The Dutch Herman Boerhaave (18th century) also recommended this method to an old Burgomaster, citing it can restore strength and spirits.^[6]

Similar East Asian traditions[]

The practice is known by the name Shaoyintongqin(少陰同寢).

China[]

In the 16th century chinese medical book Compendium of Materia Medica written by Li Shizhen,It records that "For old man , or humans who lack the energy, sleep with a girl who is before 14, as there is no better medicine than receiving the qi that is present in a young girl".^[7]

Japan[]

10th century Japanese medical text Ishinpō quotes from the Su Nü Jing(the taoist classic on sexual practices) and discuss about the practice.^[8]

Korea[]

The young girl that was used for the practice was called "witbangagi"(윗방아기) and was usually of slave origin or from a poor economic background and was usually used by the Yangban class.The practice continued til the early 20th century.^[9]

References[]

^ Schulz, James H.; Binstock, Robert H. (2008). Aging Nation: The Economics and Politics of Growing Older in America. Baltimore, MD: JHU Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-8018-8864-9.
^ Friedrichs, Robert (March 1989). "American Sociological Hegemony: Transnational Explorations". Social Forces. 67: 821–822.
^ Steven Shapin and Christopher Martyn, “How to live forever: lessons of history”, British Medical Journal, BMJ 2000;321;1580-1582]
^ Jamieson, Robert; Brown, David; Fausset, Andrew Robert (1871). A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Joshua-Esther, Volume II. London and Glasgow: William Collins. p. 291.
^ 1 Kings 1
^ Hayflick, Leonard (1994). How and why We Age. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-345-33918-8.
^ Compendium of Materia Medica,人部,人氣,"故老人、虛人，與二七以前少陰同寢，借其熏蒸，最為有益。"
^ Ishinpō,book 28,"《玄女经》云∶黄帝问玄女曰∶吾受素女阴阳之术，自有法矣。愿复命之，以恚其道。玄女曰∶天地之间，动须阴阳。阳得阴而化，阴得阳而通。一阴一阳，相须而行。故男感坚强，女动辟张。二气交精，流液相通。男有八节，女有九宫。用之失度，男发痈疽，女害月经，百病生长，寿命销亡。能知其道，乐而且强，寿即增延，色如华英。"
^ "기력 없는 노인 '몸보신' 위해 10대 소녀 방에 불렀던 조선시대 풍습". insight. 2018-09-30.

This medical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

This Bible-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

This history article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] Schulz, James H.; Binstock, Robert H. (2008). Aging Nation: The Economics and Politics of Growing Older in America. Baltimore, MD: JHU Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-8018-8864-9.

[2] Friedrichs, Robert (March 1989). "American Sociological Hegemony: Transnational Explorations". Social Forces. 67: 821–822.

[3] Steven Shapin and Christopher Martyn, “How to live forever: lessons of history”, British Medical Journal, BMJ 2000;321;1580-1582]

[4] Jamieson, Robert; Brown, David; Fausset, Andrew Robert (1871). A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Joshua-Esther, Volume II. London and Glasgow: William Collins. p. 291.

[5] 1 Kings 1

[6] Hayflick, Leonard (1994). How and why We Age. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-345-33918-8.

[7] Compendium of Materia Medica,人部,人氣,"故老人、虛人，與二七以前少陰同寢，借其熏蒸，最為有益。"

[8] Ishinpō,book 28,"《玄女经》云∶黄帝问玄女曰∶吾受素女阴阳之术，自有法矣。愿复命之，以恚其道。玄女曰∶天地之间，动须阴阳。阳得阴而化，阴得阳而通。一阴一阳，相须而行。故男感坚强，女动辟张。二气交精，流液相通。男有八节，女有九宫。用之失度，男发痈疽，女害月经，百病生长，寿命销亡。能知其道，乐而且强，寿即增延，色如华英。"

[9] "기력 없는 노인 '몸보신' 위해 10대 소녀 방에 불렀던 조선시대 풍습". insight. 2018-09-30.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]