Shunga: Sex in Japanese Art That Still Shocks the World
Old Japanese erotica is hedonistic, obscene, and exceptional
We’ve all seen a penis or two in classical art. But shunga? Oversized genitals, pink, brown, and hairy pulsate from the paintings. Drawn with incredible detail, they look almost real… Except they are sometimes as big as the characters’ heads. Portrayed people are in unnatural positions. From their faces, you can see they are enjoying the act.
And everyone’s having it: Married couples and young lovers. A senior citizen teaches a virgin how to do it. Two women entertain each other with tools. An old Buddhist monk fornicates with a samurai. An adolescent masturbates next to a geisha still fast asleep. A random Mrs. is having fun with an animal.
There are orgies, cucumbers, and octopuses… Pleasure is diverse and astounding. But is this even art or early porn?
Shunga is more than an ancient ‘Playboy’
In Japanese, shunga means “spring” which is a euphemism for sex. These erotic paintings from the Edo period (1603–1867) were first made as handscrolls. Later they…
