Taboo images of homosexuality in Shunga

Shunga, literally means "the image of spring", is a generic term used to describe Japanese erotic prints, books, scrolls and paintings.

Prudery

It was not until recently [in the 1990s] that shunga images depicting the behavior of homosexuality [male-male] and lesbian [female-female] were studied. This late study of this "hidden field" was caused by Japan's official censorship system and because of past uneasiness and uneasiness related to specific topics.

Male and female

In the Edo period in Japan [today's Tokyo], homosexuality, called "nansoku" in Japanese means "male love", is not a rare phenomenon. In the early days of the Tokugawa Act [early 17th century], the number of men in Edo far exceeded that of women. The government imposes very strict rules inspired by Confucian loyalty standards that exclude women from any work other than housework. These regulations and the shortage of women can be seen as the determinants of a large number of sexual activities. The most distinctive feature depicted in the male-male gender description is the relationship between two "lovers". The dominant and dominant males with shaved heads are always older, based on seniority or higher social status, while passive passive partners are pre-puberty or pre-puberty boys or young people depicting unshaved foreheads. These young boys are often shown on women's fabrics and can easily be mistaken for girls. Their pages as senior warriors, monks, wealthy businessmen or older servants are most popular during adolescence, especially between the ages of 15 and 17 in which the anus still has no hair. There are also three-sex-themed shunga designs depicting a man [always a young man] being taken away by an intruder while having sex with a female partner. In most shunga images representing male/young anal interventions, the genitals of young people are often understood to focus the observer's attention on the elegant lines of clothing and body.

Female secret

Although there is a Japanese term for male - male [ Nanshoku ] and sex between men and women, Joshoku Either Nyoshoku It means "female love", there is no such word to describe women - women or lesbians. In the past 15 years, most of the shunga have been dealers, and the concentrated design of female and female [about 20!] represents that the isolated female masturbates with her fingers or Harigata [or artificial penis / dildo] or two intimate women using same-sex devices. Hokusai [1760-1849], the most famous ukiyo-e master, designed two lesbian ehon [book] prints, including two awabi [abalone] divers using sea cucumber. So far, the only shunga described in the literature featuring this theme is the famous design in Eiri's oban size series. 'Calligraphy Model' [Fumi no kiyogaki] was published in 1801. In their book ' Shunga, Japanese love art ' [1975] Tom and Mary Evans made an interesting comparison with the paintings of Eiri [they belong to Eisho] shunga design and the influential post-impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec:

"Although Toulouse-Lautrec focuses on the emotional bond between girls and the tragic emptiness of lifestyles, Eusto [Eiri] pays attention to each other, but Eisho [Eiri] pays attention to the physical details of their relationship. Even an enlightened artist like Lautrec I feel that these details can not only be presented to his public, but for the Japanese, they are the core features of the design." [Evans - ' Shunga, Japanese love art ']

It must be emphasized that the lesbian images in these shunga are the result of male fantasies, designed by men and used by male audiences.

penetrating view

Although it is embarrassing for the Japanese to first feel the representativeness of these themes used in the shunga type, it is these special images that provide a comprehensive understanding of the national cultural and historical background of the Edo period.

Recommended literature

' Shunga, Japanese Love Art ' [1975] - Tom and Mary Evans
'Sex and Floating World' [1999] - Timon Screech
'Japan Erotic Prints' [2002] - Inge Klompmakers
'Japanese Porn Fantasy' [2005] - C. Uhlenbeck and M. Winkel

Important Shunga artist

Hishikawa Moronobu [? - 1694]
Suzuki Harunobu [c.1725-1770]
Isoda Koryusai [1735-90]
Chokyosai Eiri [behavior C.1789-1801]
Kitagawa Utamaro [1753-1806]
Torii Kiyonaga [1752-1815]
Katsukawa Shuncho [behavior. C.1780s - early 19th century]
Katsushika Hokusai [1760-1849]
Yanagawa Shigenobu [1787-1833]
Keisai Eisen [1790-1848]
Kikugawa Eizan [1787-1867]
Gechuan Guoyi [1797-1861]
Utagawa Kunisada [1786-1865]
Kawanabe Kyosai [1831-89]

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