Severing a Sleeve

 This was on Sunday yesterday.

#TIL there is an expression in Chinese, “severing a sleeve” 「斷袖」, that dates back to the 2^nd century, which is an euphemism for homosexuality. Apparently, as recorded in the Book of Han, the emperor awakes to find his male lover still in slumber on the former’s robe. In order not to disturb him, the emperor tenderly cuts off the sleeve to retrieve the robe.

I find this story very touching. What a poetic, beautiful expression.

Also, he's the emperor. You'd think he'd have more than one robe. Like, this one couldn't wait?

Unless... it was the imperial robe, the one and only. In which case... No, I still can't.