“All things, whether in heaven or on earth, come into existence by the co-operation of the dual powers, the male and female. So all things, whether good or bad, novel or strange, and all those manifold changes and transformations arise entirely from the favourable or adverse influence exercised by the male and female powers. And though some things seldom seen by mankind might come to life, the principle at work is, after all, the same.” – Cao Xueqin, The Dream of the Red Chamber (trans. H. Bencraft Joly)