A BEIJING lawyer has gained fame as a defender of the rights of"ernai,"or mistresses.

Four months ago, Zheng Baichun set up a Web site offering legal advice to women in relationships with married men. Over 100 mistresses have asked for his help.

He believes mistresses are vulnerable as many are from poor families and their basic rights should be respected.

Any unmarried woman who has a stable sexual relationship with a man and receives financial support from him has legal rights that need protection, said Zheng.

His Web site and his ideas have led to some harsh criticism. It is not unusual for rich and powerful Chinese men to keep one or more mistresses who often end up being the targets of criticism for corrupting public morals.

Zheng said mistresses are often afraid to resort to the law to safeguard their rights, which can be undermined by society's moral standards rather than ruled by law.

Despite the controversy, or because of it, Zheng's Web site has received more than 36,000 visits. He has helped four women so far. In one case he helped a woman win child support from a man who fathered her son in an affair more than 13 years earlier.

Zheng insisted that his advocacy work does not mean he supports women becoming mistresses.

However, Zheng lost the love of his own wife in the process. She has filed for divorce.

Editor: Wing