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Did you know that some of the most famous erotic artworks come from Japan and are actually centuries old? When we talk about sex in Japanese culture, people tend to think of manga or contemporary erotic films. However, there’s a long tradition of erotic art existing in Japan, Shunga being a key example.
These sensual, often explicit prints are full of humour and poetry (as well as sexy scenes). They show us how centuries ago in Japan, sex and sexuality wasn’t as taboo a topic as you may have thought.
What is Shunga?
The word shunga literally translates to “picture of spring”. In Japanese culture, spring is used as a euphemism for sex, love and desire.
Shunga is a type of erotic print that, over centuries, has enjoyed continued popularity in Japan, particularly during the Edo period (1603-1868). This type of artwork is a kind of ukio-ye, famous Japanese artwork depicting daily life, landscapes and even on-stage performances.
Numerous well-known artists have created shunga works, amongst them Hokusai and Utamaro. Shunga typically shows couples in the midst of the act, but it can also depict moments of seduction, flirting and even display the bonds between lovers.
Contrary to what you may believe, shunga works weren’t hidden away or reserved for elite audiences. They were fairly widely available and made up part of popular culture.
What Made Shunga so Popular in Japan?
In the Edo period, sex was generally a less taboo topic than in Europe at that time. Pleasure was simply a part of life, and artists didn’t shy away from showing this.
Shunga prints served multiple purposes. Some aimed purely to entertain, others were educational, created to help young couples discovering sex for the first time.
It wasn’t unheard of for these prints to be gifted to couples at their wedding. Sometimes they were seen to bring luck and protect soldiers and travellers.
Shunga blends eroticism, humour and daily life, which may explain why it was such a popular movement at the time.
When Eroticism, Art and the Imaginary Combine
Shunga doesn’t always depict lifelike, realistic sex scenes. Artists often delved into exaggeration and fantasy.
The body and the genitals were sometimes voluntarily disproportionate, giving the images a caricature-like feel. Provocation wasn’t the only goal, artists also wanted to play around with artistic conventions and the imagination.
Some prints do take fantasy to new levels. One of the most famous, by Hokusai, shows a scene with a woman locked in an embrace with two octopuses, a scene that has become iconic within the erotic Japanese art scene.
These artworks show us that shunga has always been a place for exploration, where artists get the chance to explore desire, fantasy and creativity as they please.
The Shunga Legacy
With Japan opening up to the west during the 19th century, mentalities began to change, meaning erotic images were more heavily censored.
For a long time, shunga remained relatively obscure to the public eye. However, in recent decades, it has been rediscovered across the globe and studied as an art form in its own right.
Museums around the world now dedicate entire exhibitions to shunga, and many art historians are interested in learning more about how it influences Japanese visual culture.
Indeed, some of its conventions can be found in modern-day popular culture, particularly in certain manga and contemporary illustrations.
Shunga shows us that sex can be depicted in many of ways, from purely artistic, to humorously with imagination and sensitivity.
These prints remind us that in certain cultures and certain time periods, desire wasn’t always something taboo that needed hiding. On the contrary, it could even be a way for artists to express themselves.
