Shunga and Japanese Eroticism

Shunga scrolls and pillow books are one more reason to believe that sexually explicit art had its early beginnings in the Orient. Erotic art has been produced in Japan, China, India and other Asian cultures for centuries - long before it was prevalent in the western world.

The most sensual and artistic among all erotic art is the traditional Japanese "Shunga" painting which had its beginnings in the 7th or 8th century AD and reached its creative peak during the 12th - 18th century. Shunga literally means "springtime pictures" as "spring" was a common euphemism for sex, during those times. These erotic pictures were produced and sold as single prints or as small folded pillow-books called enpon.

The sexually explicit Shunga pictures most often featured fully clothed couples in various sexual positions with expressions of sexual ecstasy. Every object in these intimate scenes bristles with sexual excitement. For example, the bonsai trees take on the suggestion of the male's stout penis while the silk robes symbolize the curves and undulation of the female vagina. Shunga is particularly known for the exaggeration of size in the depiction of female and male genitalia. These features were shown much larger than life because, given the miniature size of these pillow books the details would barely be noticed otherwise.

Shunga pillow books and prints were popular in Japan for various reasons. Apart from the pleasure of viewing sexually stimulating erotic images, the shunga prints were also used for the sexual education of young men and women in wealthy families. In fact, it was even a tradition among the Japanese that the bride of a Daimyo (a high-standing feudal lord) or Hatamoto (Samurai) brought a collection of Shunga prints along with her dowry! The Daimyo and Hatamoto also followed the custom of placing a roll of Shunga in the helmet box while commissionng the suit armor, the Shunga being a symbol of eternal happiness being showered upon princes and princesses.

The Shunga scrolls and pillow books were produced between the 12th and 18th centuries during the Shogunate and Samurai period. Written and illustrated with Samurai warriors and Geisha pleasure women in mind, the erotic literature dealt with ancient lessons for achieving sexual pleasure. During this period the Japanese nobility and the wealthy put into practice everything they learnt in these pillow books and pleasure districts thus thrived!

Originally written and hand-painted on paper scrolls, the Shunga featured erotic poems and stories as well as sound sexual advice. Shunga prints were produced by ukiyo-e artists, who produced a master drawing in ink and transferred it to a block of wood, which was later used for making cheaper block-printed copies - for the masses. Almost all ukiyo-e artists tried their hand at Shunga paintings as these erotic prints sold for a much higher price than their ordinary work. Most often, producing a piece of Shunga for a wealthy client provided them with a lot of money!!

During the late 17th century, western inks and dyes were introduced in Japan, resulting in brighter, larger and heavy-lined Shungas. Soon private collectors in the west became enthusiastic about Shunga - and rare and exclusive Shunga prints found their way across the world.

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