Japanese Sex Toys as Portrayed in Ancient Shunga
Marijn Kruijff
01/18/2018
9 min
8

Japanese Sex Toys as Portrayed in Ancient Shunga

01/18/2018
9 min
8

Shunga prints depicting Japanese sex toys from the Edo Period were included for the joy and education. These sex toys were produced for both men and women and the designs were often accompanied by pseudo-scientific descriptions explaining why each sex toy should be used. This stems from the idea that sex and health are inevitably entwined.

Below you can find additional info, designs depicting Japanese sex toys and also rare pictures of original pieces:

Print with various japanese sex toys such as a harigata

Fig.1. ‘Various sex toys‘ (c.1839) from the series ‘Ama no ukihashi‘ by Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

The above image (Fig.1.) depicts the following Japanese sex toys: a harigata (right), kujiri (upper left), and a dokata (below left).

Print with multiple japanese sex toys

Fig.2. ‘Multiple sex toys‘ (c.1839) from the series ‘Ama no ukihashi‘ by Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

Figure 2 depicts a tagaigata (left), a kabutokaki (first on the right), a rin no tama (second on the right), a namako no wa (third on the right) and a rin no wa (fourth on the right).

Benevolent Dildo

The four koban shunga by Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) added below include text that explains on how often one should have sex for optimal health organized in relation to the four seasons. Translated it reads: “spring three times a week, summer six, autumn one, winter none.” The image for winter portrays a chastity device for the male and a rather benevolent dildo for the female.

A print of a Leather phallus bag.

Fig.3. ‘Autumn: Leather phallus bag (c.1822) from the series ‘Sex toys for Women’s Pleasure in the Bedroom (Keichū nyo’etsu warai-dōgu)‘ attributed to Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

Depiction of harigata (dildo)

Fig.4. ‘Winter: Dildo‘ (c.1822) from the series ‘Sex Toys for Women’s Pleasure in the Bedroom (Keichū nyo’etsu warai-dōgu)‘ attributed to Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

Depiction of two Japanese sex toys.

Fig.5. ‘Spring: Helmet, Armour‘ (c.1822) from the series ‘Sex Toys for Women’s Pleasure in the Bedroom (Keichū nyo’etsu warai-dōgu)‘ attributed to Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

De[iction of Japanese sex toys, a sea-cucumber ring, jewel balls and small dildo.

Fig.6. ‘Summer: Sea-cucumber Ring, Jewel Balls, Small Dildo‘ (c.1822) from the series ‘Sex Toys for Women’s Pleasure in the Bedroom (Keichū nyo’etsu warai-dōgu)‘ attributed to Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

Inserting a rin no tama before penetration.

Fig.7. ‘Inserting a rin no tama‘ (c.1890s) attributed to Tomioka Eisen (1864-1905)

Double penetration using a harigata.

Fig.8. ‘Double penetration using a harigata‘ (c.1890s) attributed to Tomioka Eisen (1864-1905)

A male lover pleasing two women at the same time using a harigata.

Fig.10. ‘A male lover pleasing two women at the same time using a harigata‘ (c.1825) from the series ‘Kon kurabe tama no ase‘ attributed to Utagawa Sadashige (aka. Utagawa Kuniteru, act. 1818-1860)

A woman is applying lubricant to the penis of her lover.

Fig.11. ‘Applying lubricant to the penis‘ (c.1830s) attributed to Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)

A female applying a lubricant to the huge member of her lover.

Fig.12. ‘Female applying a lubricant to the huge member of her lover‘ (c.1850) by Utagawa school.

Jewel Balls

A woman is rubbing in her lover’s penis with a lubricant. In front of them lay some jewel balls and a higozuiki that she will wind around his penis later on during their love-play. He tenderly strokes her chin while his toes caress her private parts. Kuniyoshi produced another design without the sex toys.

Japanese sex toys

Fig.13. ‘Various Japanese sex toys‘ (c.1821) from the series ‘Manpuku wagojin (Gods of Intercourse)‘ by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

Japanese sex toys

Fig.14. ‘Sex toys inspired on Hokusai’s Gods of Intercourse‘ (c.1890s) from the series ‘Kuni no sakae‘ by Ikeda Terukata (1883-1921)

A box filled with japanese sex toys.

Fig.15. Set of Sex Toys, early twentieth century (Collection British Museum)

Phalluses were often made in stone and wood, and presented as offerings to shrines as part of phallic cults to pray for good harvests and fertility in the family. They were also positioned at the boundaries of village settlements.

Laughing Devices

Even today, phalluses are often used at local festivals. Of course there is a clear distinction between the phalluses that were used for religious rituals and the dildos that were used for daily use. The pieces in the above set were for practical use. They are called, ‘laughing devices’ (warai dōgu) to emphasize the close connection between sex and laughter.

Japanese sex toys

Fig.16. ‘Left: A toy called ‘Kujiri’ to be worn on the dildo and fingers. Kujiri is heated by hot water and stimulates the skin of the entrance of the vulva‘ (Source: @tuyashun)

Dōkyō’s Armour

These are all examples of Japanese sex toys that are featured in certain shunga designs. Included are buffalo horn-made dildos (ushizō), tortoiseshell (kamezō) and wood (mokuzō). The hollow dildo (centre) could have cotton wadding soaked in hot water placed inside it, the hot water making the dildo soft and warm. Another striking toy is called ‘Dōkyō‘s armour and helmet’ (Dōkyō no yoroi-kabuto), named after the monk Dōkyō (d.AD 772), of whom it was said that he was the lover of Empress Kōken (AD 718-70). It was worn on the penis to give it a ribbed texture.

japanese sex toys

Fig.17. ‘The first two images refer to the tagaigata (double-sided dildo) while the round ball on the right is called ‘Rin-no-tama’. It can make a beautiful sound like ringing a bell. By inserting two balls into the vagina and intersecting, the sensitivity of the ball will increase further‘ (Source: @tuyashun)

Make Women Cry

The ‘armour’ was worn on the shaft of the penis and the ‘helmet’ over the glans. In this set we can see two kinds: in one, the armour and helmet are separate (left); in the other, they form a single piece (right). There are also two examples of rings, with knobbles on them worn around the penis: these are known, literally, as  secret rings to make women cry’ (himenaki-wa).

Skilled Artisans

It is apparent from these real examples of sex toys that they were made by skilled artisans. These kind of sets were produced until the early twentieth century.*

A podium with various Japanese sex toys displayed.

Fig.18. ‘Podium displaying various sex toys with a vagina-shaped curtain’ (c.1825) by Utagawa Sadashige

Koban-sized shunga with 'an older male sporting a dakota around his penis getting ready to penetrate a young geisha' (c.1850) by Utagawa school

Fig.19. Koban-sized shunga with ‘an older male sporting a dokata around his penis getting ready to penetrate a young geisha‘ (c.1850) by Utagawa school

print with an older male wearing a sex toy around his penis

Fig.20. Detail of genitals and dokata

In our collection we have (the tortoiseshell piece has been sold) two actual sex toys (harigata‘s) that date from the mid to late 19th century and resemble the ones depicted above:

A photo of a papier mache harigata .

Fig.21. Authentic ‘Papier mache harigata  (c.1850)

A photo of a tortoise-shell harigata.

Fig.22. Authentic ‘Tortoise-shell harigata‘ (c.1860)

Japanese sex toys shungaFig.23. 'Male lover moving a giant into the vagina of a stark-naked female' (c.1830-44) by an unknown artist   

woman playing with a giant sex toy shunga

Fig.24. 'Woman satisfying herself with a giant harigata' (c.1830-44) by an unknown artist

Wrappers

Fig.23 and 24 are from a set of prints entitled 'Togoku denrai ocha senkou nou' (c.1830-44) that were intended as wrappers for sex aids, giving a pictorially detailed explanation of various methods of use.

Illustration of a battle (Kaei period) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Fig.25.  Illustration of a battle (Kaei period) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Humiliated or Aroused?

A detail of a shunga (fig.25) that compares the interaction between men and women in a battle of the sexes. She thrusts the dildo tied around her waist into the man's butt. Is the man humiliated or aroused?

The following two videos include many other designs with Japanese sex toys:

Mijn film (Sex Toys - Part 1)
Mijn film (SEx Toys - Part 2)

Click HERE for a striking oban-sized design from Keisai Eisen’s acclaimed A Light Spring Snow series (c.1822) including a lot of sex toys…!!!

*Source: ‘Shunga, Sex and Pleasure in Japanse Art‘ by Timothy Clark

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