Nowadays, topics about sex are often considered a taboo in Asia, especially in East Asian countries. Therefore, artworks depicting nudity and sexuality are deemed to be obscene and salacious in these countries.

Yet, to the surprise of many, erotic art was once so ubiquitous in Japan. It even became a mainstream in society and appealed to all classes from the ruling class down to the ordinary townsperson. This shockingly explicit type of erotic art, shunga, challenges the boundary of eroticism in any art form, and many of them are mind-blowing even to Westerners.

Lovers in summer with reed blind and fan. Kitagawa Utamaro

Shunga is a Japanese term for erotic art. It was made in various forms, including painted hand scrolls, printed books and colour prints. Contrary to popular belief, people in the past embraced human sexuality with a liberal attitude. Erotic pictures were once prevalent in China during the Han dynasty (206 BC-220) and Tang dynasty (618-907). Japanese shunga is believed to be originated from erotic pictures from China. However, the Japanese took the art to the next level and developed its own style and cultural significance.

The earliest record for Japanese shunga dated back to the Heian period (794-1192) but it was mostly enjoyed by the upper-classes at that time. It was difficult to copy images because of the lack of technology, which made shunga a luxury to most ordinary people. With the development of woodblock printing, shunga was made in mass production during the Edo period (1603-1868).

Warrior making love to woman. Keisai Eisen

Thanks to its greater availability, shunga were widely distributed in public in woodblock prints and books. They were often presented as gifts for the upper class, and as souvenirs of Edo. In 1722, after the Tokugawa shogunate implemented The Kyōhō reforms, shunga books and prints went ‘underground’ following the censorship edict which banned production of all new unauthorized publications. At the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912), Western culture and technologies were introduced to Japan, leading to the decline of shunga, which could no longer compete with erotic photography.

Shunga scrolls were believed to protect houses from fire

During Shunga’s peak, it was so popular in society and enjoyed by both men and women. There were even some superstitious beliefs that samurai would put shunga inside of their armour as a lucky charm against death. Merchants also used them to prevent fire in their warehouses. In traditional belief, sexual intercourse symbolizes the harmony of Yin and Yang. And the function of copulation is similar to rain bringing fertility to soils. Therefore, shunga carries the symbolic meaning of rain that helps prevent or extinguish fire.  

Woodblock print depicting a little girl pulling sash while lovers are making love in a corridor. Isoda Koryusai, Shiba Kokan.

Shunga also had an educational purpose. At that time, it was a tradition to gift shunga to young newlywed couples, especially for the sons and daughters of wealthy families, as sexual guidance on how to perform in bed.

Lovers with a landscape of Atago behind

Shunga in Japanese means ‘spring pictures’, and ‘spring’ is a common euphemism for sex. Spring symbolizes fertility, as well as the short lifespan of female beauty. Therefore spring is a recurring theme in shunga, where some of them portray cherry blossoms in the background.  

A Geisha and Her Client in the Osaka Pleasure Quarters. Katsushika Hokusū

Shunga depicting a courtesan and her client in bed quilts. Suzuki Harunobu

Mostly created by the artists of the ukiyo-e or ‘floating world’ school, ukiyo-e (pictures of ‘floating world’) is a genre of Japanese art which flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. The word Ukiyo (‘floating world') describes the hedonistic lifestyle at that time when many indulged in the diversions available in the brothel districts and Kabuki theatres of Edo.

Fine Wind, Clear Morning. Katsushika Hokusai

Three Beauties of the Present Day. Kitagawa Utamaro

Although many of us are more familiar with images of Japanese landscape, female beauties and kabuki actors depicted in ukiyo-e, shunga art is actually an equally popular subject that almost all ukiyo-e artists worked on at some point in their careers.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Katsushika Hokusai

For example, Katsushika Hokusai, who is popular for his iconic work The Great Wave off Kanagawa, also created a number of erotic works.

The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife. Katsushika Hokusai

The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife is a celebrated work created by Katsushika Hokusai. It features an octopus performing oral sex on a female's genitalia, with his tentacles wrapping the woman.

In the next article, we are going to look into some themes depicted in shunga and show you more intriguing works by great Japanese artists. Please stay tuned.