Chinese Author Faces Prison for Evading Censorship with Danmei Novel
The Chinese writer YunJian, known for the novel “Application For Divorce” (离婚申请), was arrested for publishing danmei works (fiction centered on male-male romance) that circumvented the country’s censorship laws. Her sentence could reach up to 10 years.
In China, laws strictly prohibit the creation and monetization of “obscene” content, though the criteria for what is banned are constantly evolving. Prohibited themes range from violence to romantic insinuations, public affection (such as kisses), and controversial political stances. Many artists are identified through anonymous tips.
Chinese Author Faces Prison for Evading Censorship with Danmei Novel
In June, Chinese authorities targeted the Haitang platform, a Taiwanese website, accusing it of tax evasion to justify obtaining information about independent authors publishing there. Users on Weibo noted that this accusation is frequently used as a pretext to find writers producing banned content and profiting from it, even if their works are hosted on international domains to avoid restrictions.
This crackdown caused a mass exodus of authors from social networks, led to the removal of several books, and forced policy changes on Haitang. Some authors were also arrested as part of the operation.
On October 16th, YunJian’s sister announced the official notice of her arrest via Weibo. The writer is charged under Article 82, which deals with the production and distribution of obscene materials for profit. Her sister’s post, which has over 60,000 shares, detailed the emotional toll on the family, including the seizure of all earnings from YunJian’s writing over the past years.
The family has incurred debts trying to repay the confiscated income, secure bail, and pay legal fees. While they accept that YunJian must face the consequences, they expressed frustration that the family has not been allowed to see her since June, as only her lawyer has visitation rights.
“She worked hard and was passionate about what she did, but now every word she ever wrote has become the foundation of her sentence. Not only will all her royalties be confiscated, but she also faces a long prison term and hefty fines.”
YunJian’s punishment could worsen due to the high number of views her works received. Even though some views did not generate direct income, the fact that her novels accumulated over 250,000 views is treated as an aggravating factor, which could increase her sentence to 10 years.
Users on X (formerly Twitter) and Weibo have criticized the harsh penalties imposed on writers, noting that violent crimes often receive lighter sentences.
Source: Você Sabia Anime