Want to find out all about the secret gay art in ancient Japan and China?

When an aspect of a culture gets forcibly erased, the erasers will then issue the challenge “Well, if this or that is so normal, then where is the evidence?” Of course, they purposefully erased the evidence for that reason.

Artifacts give tangible visibility and provide an existence proof.

Think about the significance of the single silver goblet known as the Warren Cup, which depicts two different same-sex couplings on a simply, common object from ancient Greece. Without that cup, the critics who claim that same-sex relationships were not a significant part of the culture end up with their negative evidence (if it was as common as you say, then surely it would be widely represented). And how much more compelling would it be if 50 or 100 or 500 different versions of the Warren Cup still existed.

The new e-Book from the Shunga Gallery, “The Secret Gay Art in Ancient Japan and China” shines a light on the fact that same-sex relationships were routine. You cannot ignore or deny the existence because it is here in these common artifacts. And not secret at all, simple visual cues – a small purple scarf on the brow of a young male kabuki actor who performed a female role – took on a homoerotic meaning that would have been widely recognized.

When one sees discussion of shunga, the existence of same-sex examples might not even be acknowledged. Although same-sex (nanshoku) acts are included in shunga works, they are outnumbered. This new book serves a strong purpose by concentrating the nanshoku examples, as well as the comparable representation in Chinese paintings, reminding us how invisible the taboo of nanshoku has been within the larger taboo of shunga.

Through the thematic focus in this nicely rendered collection, with its pleasant and considered commentary, the reader cannot ignore this important part of the historical culture.