The annals of ancient Chinese literature are rife with fascinating tales and medical accounts, some stranger than others. Among them is ” Koro“, a delusional disorder that embodies a peculiar blend of fear, folklore, and medicine. Sufferers experience the overpowering belief that their sex organs are shrinking or retracting and will disappear, resulting in their death.
The Ancient Records of Genital Retreat
Koro, having its etymology rooted in the Malayo-Indonesian term symbolizing a turtle retracting its head, has been a mysterious and oftentimes terrifying syndrome for many throughout history. But it’s in ancient Chinese texts that we see some of the earliest and most vivid descriptions.
Highlighted in the Qing Dynasty’s “New Collection of Remedies of Value”, 221-207 BC, Koro or “yin type of cold qi invasion” was described as a harrowing event, usually occurring during intimacy, wherein the penis would retreat into the abdomen. If left untreated with specific “heaty” medicines, it warned of impending death. The ancient yin and yang theory offers an explanation for Koro, suggesting that an imbalance in the yang humour—often portrayed as the active, male energy—leads to the retraction of genitals.
The name ‘koro’ comes from a Malayo-Indonesian term symbolizing a turtle retracting its head. Source: Aurelian Nedelcu / Adobe Stock.
Folklore & Fears: The Fox Spirit and Desperate Remedies
Chinese folklore further amplified the fears surrounding Koro. The acclaimed “Strange Stories…
