Issue 02

08-2019

The
Anatomy of
Hokusai’s
Rarest
Shunga
Series
Issue 02
08-2019

The
Anatomy of
The
Hokusai’s
Rarest
Anatomy of
Hokusai’s
Shunga
Series

Rarest
Shunga
Series

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 Issue 02
08-2019 Contents

The The Horny God of Izumo  7

Anatomy of Meiji Reprint  9
Hokusai’s
Rarest
Violent Passion  13
Shunga “Whaam!”  15
Series Newlywed  21
Timid Maiden  23
Unrestrained Passions  25
Passionate Body-Fluids  27
Japanese Nobility  31
Lustful Demands  33
Bursts of Ecstasy  35
Grabby Assailant  37
Creative Power  39
Biting His Lip  41
Male Escorts  43

Copyright © 2019

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• ‘The Complete Ukiyo-e Shunga: Hokusai and Shunga: following section!
The Horny God of Izumo’ (Vol.1) by Richard Lane
Issue 02
08-2019 The Horny God of Izumo

The Hokusai’s famous shunga album ‘The Horny God of Izumo (En-musubi

Anatomy of Izumo-no-sugi)’ in its original first edition, issued c.1822, is virtually
Hokusai’s
Rarest
untraceable on the market. But why is it so rare in comparison with
Shunga Hokusai’s other erotic work?
Series
One can only speculate but there is a good chance that it was
published in a exclusive limited edition and, unlike Hokusai’s more
famous works, not reprinted again at that time. But what is the
explanation that the album was reasonably well known by the public?

Source: ‘The Complete Ukiyo-e Shunga: Hokusai and

Shunga: The Horny God of Izumo’ (Vol.1) by Richard Lane
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7
 Issue 02
08-2019 Meiji Reprint

The This was because it was re-issued (in at least two editions) in the Meiji
Anatomy of era (c.1880/90s), and proofs that critics and historians were aware of
Hokusai’s
Rarest
its existence. These reprints (Fig.1a) were made from the original blocks,
Shunga but new blocks were produced for the coloring and kimono patterns.
Series One of the reprints has a blue border was added with white decorations
of a flying phoenix (Fenghuang) and flowers, while the other (Fig.1b)
remains closer to the original.

Figure 1a
Sex Immortal
Meiji reprint with blue border ‘Doggy-style’ (c.1890s)
But let’s go back to the original edition of ‘The Horny God of Izumo’.
The album consists of 12 chuban-sized designs and is signed with
Hokusai’s pen-name ‘Dai jinkyo Insei (Greatly-Impotent Sex Immortal)’.
This pseudonym is both funny and insightful because Hokusai
produced his best erotic art in his later years (then 62) when his desire
already outlived his performance.

Heavier Hues
The coloring in the first edition was slightly different from the
other shunga books of that period displaying heavier tones, although it
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9
Issue 02
08-2019

The Unfaithful
Anatomy of What is striking about this exceptional album is that amidst the
Hokusai’s
Rarest
protagonists, one discerns a great number of matrons – (often
Shunga unfaithful!) wives or widows. Of the twelve plates, a whopping seven
Series exploit this topic.

Smoke and Body Fluids

In this eBook you’ll discover all 12 original color plates (in uncensored
double-page format) from 1822, all elaborately described, and
also images of 12 detailed paintings from an album produced
c.1870s, strongly inspired by Hokusai’s ‘The Horny God of Izumo’-
series. Although the artist who produced the paintings remained close
to the original, he added some realistic details (such as smoke and
body fluids) and omitted the text.

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11
 Issue 02
08-2019 Violent Passion

The The opening scene of the album (Fig.2a) is one of violent passion.
Anatomy of A sensuous housekeeper with shaved eyebrows loses herself in the
Hokusai’s
Rarest
embrace of her young spouse. Her hairpins scatter in disarray as she
Shunga strains head, neck and loins to meet the onslaught of her passionate
Series mate, who sucks eagerly at her breast.

Sexual Efforts
Kimono and bedding lie likewise scattered in abandon – silken
Figure 2a garments, rendered in that typically-Hokusai nervous pattern – as, at
lower left, crumpled tissue paper lends silent testimony to the sexual
efforts that have preceded the present tableau.

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13
 Issue 02
08-2019 “Whaam!”

The And in another typically Hokusai device, the scene is lent variety by
Anatomy of the semi-comical depiction of a young and plump shop-clerk, seen
Hokusai’s
Rarest
masturbating in aroused, voyeuristic empathy. As is often the case with
Shunga shunga, the text adds very little to our understanding of the scene –
Series serving a function rather similar to the “Whaam!” inscriptions on a Roy
Lichtenstein cartoon painting.

Feverishly Debate
Figure 3a In the second design, Hokusai even goes a step further in terms
of complexity and nonconformity. A pair of lovers is making love
in a corridor, the male penetrating from behind, as his sweetheart
bends forward, while touching the ground with her hands. They both
are servants from various households and feverishly debate on the
possibility of running off together.

Pair of Bastards
Finishing off this trilateral design, a pair of bastards haphazardly mimic
the lover’s pose (just as, in reverse, the couple themselves unknowingly
imitate “doggy-style”). The scene’s complexity is even more enhanced
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15
 Issue 02
08-2019

The Netsuke Collectors

Anatomy of This image will certainly spark the enthusiasm of netsuke collectors as
Hokusai’s
Rarest
they immediately will discern a kagami-buta hanging on the man’s sash
Shunga in the foreground. A similar scene can be found in Hokusai’s shunga
Series book series ‘Manpuku wagojin’ (Fig.3d) that was published shortly
before in 1821.

Blemish
At first sight, this plate might seem a bit too unsophisticated for
some, more benign souls. But Hokusai is an unsophisticated artist: his
enjoyment is in the eccentricities, the deficiencies, the blemish of the
Figure 3c human race. He took a special delight in the obscene as emphasized in
the added text, which is from the artist’s own hand, and contains some
of the most graphic reflections -including the sounds of copulation –
ever released.

Domination
Simultaneously, after one has closely examined the image and the
erotic aspects lose their domination, one can start to enjoy the
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“To Hell with the humans! – keep your mind on the business at hand!”
Figure 3d 17
Issue 02
08-2019

The Sexual Lust Diminishing

Anatomy of At the time of the release of this album Hokusai was already in his
Hokusai’s
Rarest
sixties with his sexual lust diminishing but his attraction to human
Shunga sexuality yet undiminished. Since he was also responsible for the
Series accompanying text and dialogue, it’s interesting to focus on the male
dog’s expression of restrained yet devoted incitement, that very well
could be representing the artist’s own vision.

Splendid Genre Novel

The shunga expert Dr. Richard Lane emphasizes his compassion with
the human couple at left, based on their humble origins. They are
house-servants living in a time where money and class were decisive.
What would happen if they really ran off? Where could they go?
How would they make a living? And so on...! In short, enough material for
a splendid genre novel.

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19
 Issue 02
08-2019 Newlywed

The In this third scene (Fig.4a) Hokusai allocates such backdrop ingredients,
Anatomy of and focuses only on the protagonists. A wistful young newlywed woman
Hokusai’s
Rarest
undergoes the introductory acts of her secret lover as she leans on a
Shunga geisha pillow (takamakura) with her shoulder. The blanket and kimono
Series serve almost as a shell that wraps the lovers in their own world.

Mutual Love
The dialogue indicates their love was mutual from the beginning, and
Figure 4a that they encountered each other recently. This was at the Hira-Sei
Restaurant in Fukugawa during a Special Festival at the nearby Eitaiji
Temple. This happening was held on the Fifth day of the Third Month
of Bunsei V (1822). Just about seven months before the date of the
preface to this album.

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Figure 4b

21
 Issue 02
08-2019 Timid Maiden

The The fourth scene (Fig.5a) portrays two young lovers during their initial
Anatomy of sexual acts. The young woman is a maiden who hides her face timidly
Hokusai’s
Rarest
as her inexperienced lover wets his fingers for easier access.
Shunga
Series Escape
As often with Hokusai’s erotic work, the scene is firmly embedded in
a solid rock of compositional structure. The participants could hardly
Figure 5a escape, even if they wanted to.

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Figure 5b
23
 Issue 02
08-2019 Unrestrained Passions

The A mature woman (Fig.6a) subjects a young rebellious adolescent, who

Anatomy of is half her age, to her unrestrained passions. From the dialogue we can
Hokusai’s
Rarest
deduce that she is his former wet nurse, which explains she now finds
Shunga him so adorable.
Series
Insatiable Lust
The fragile youngster is almost squeezed by the enormous volume
of the overpowering woman. The impressive amount of tissue papers
Figure 6a at lower left indicates the lady’s insatiable lust, the young lad has
to endure.

Me Too Movement
This remarkable image reveals, indeed the ambivalent powers, both
formidable and terrible, of human sexuality. I write this when the whole
“me too” movement is in full swing.

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Figure 6b
25
 Issue 02
08-2019 Passionate Body-Fluids

The The sixth scene (Fig.7a) takes us to another world, that uncovers a more
Anatomy of worldly, and less basic path to the joys of sex. Here, the experienced
Hokusai’s
Rarest
lover, sitting in a impromptu chair, is seen engaged in proficient
Shunga cunnilingus, amassing his lover’s passionate “body-fluids” that is
Series collected in a jar below. This “love-juice” is later mixed with sake as an
elixer for improving one’s sexual prowess.

Outlandish
Figure 7a These kind of outlandish scenes appeared more often in the shunga
during this era, but the method seems to be a bit uncommon, when you
set it against the usually more straightforward approach to sex.

Chinese Origins
This method probably was derived from the procedures of Chinese
connoisseurs, who sometimes preferred the derivatives of sex above
the act itself. They believed in the therapeutic power of this “magic
fluid”, and therefore could exploit it.

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27
 Issue 02
08-2019

The Mistake By Dr. Richard Lane

Anatomy of According to Dr. Richard Lane their conversation provides more clues
Hokusai’s
Rarest
on this, as the man reveals that he has “of late been delving in rangaku
Shunga (Dutch studies).” Lane adds,”in the popular mind, however, European
Series and Chinese customs were sometimes confused during this period of
“National Seclusion”. Furthermore he points to Hokusai’s own shunga
book of 1814, Kinoe no komatsu, in which a related scene appears
featuring a Chinese couple (see Fig.7c).

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29
 Issue 02
08-2019 Japanese Nobility

The I have examined this design in detail and discussed it with other shunga
Anatomy of experts and have to conclude that Lane is wrong here, and that this
Hokusai’s
Rarest
couple is of Japanese nobility. A true Chinese couple can be admired in
Shunga a design by Hokusai’s son-in-law Yanagawa Shigenobu (Fig.7d).
Series
Captivating Partner
Anyway, in this figure’s intense countenance (Fig.6a) Hokusai has
well captured the essence of this “collector”, who is more interested
in his own experimentation than on the attractiveness of his lovely
captivating partner.

Figure 7d
‘Chinese couple’ (late 1820s) from the series “Willow Storm (Yanagi no arashi)’ by
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31
 Issue 02
08-2019 Lustful Demands

The In the seventh image (Fig.8a) we see adult lovers locked in a desirous
Anatomy of embrace. The man bents over and lifts the woman’s hips to meet his
Hokusai’s
Rarest
lustful demands. Such a position allows, indeed, a maximum freedom of
Shunga movement on the part of the male; for the female there is probably not
Series all that much difference in effectiveness. In this case, the conversation
is even less understandable than in the other scenes – consisting
almost entirely of the passionate, incessant gasps of the partners.

Figure 8a

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33
 Issue 02
08-2019 Bursts of Ecstasy

The Like in the fifth scene (Fig.6a), this seventh scene (Fig.9a) features a
Anatomy of teenage boy and a passionate matriarch. She is a merry widow who,
Hokusai’s
Rarest
during her bursts of ecstasy, vows to adopt her novice shop assistant.
Shunga The couple is merged in an embrace that almost seems inseparable.
Series The composition is so immaculate, and the “pairing” is so perfectly
carried out that the lovers seem quite literally “meant to be together.”

Figure 9a

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Figure 9b

35
 Issue 02
08-2019 Grabby Assailant

The In the ninth scene (Fig.10a) we witness the unwanted encounter

Anatomy of between a maiden and a middle-aged male. She fiercely resists the
Hokusai’s
Rarest
undesired advances of her grabby assailant. From the conversation we
Shunga learn that the latter is an acupuncturist, summoned to treat the girl for
Series stomach pains.

Randy Doctor
The randy doctor seems to be losing himself in his arousal, not worrying
Figure 10a about the outcome. The image is particularly striking because of the
portrayal of the genitalia. In this case, unlike the other designs in the
series, the male organ loaded with indecent appetite, and the female
organ, physically ready but aversive.

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37
 Issue 02
08-2019 Creative Power

The The tenth design (Fig.11a) shows us Hokusai at the peak of his creative
Anatomy of power in the last phase of his erotic work. In front of a mosquito-
Hokusai’s
Rarest
netting, a fully naked mature male lifts the rear of his lover up to his
Shunga knee, kissing her passionately as he engages in skillful fingering.
Series
Robust Member
The young woman almost carelessly fondling his robust member with
her foot. According to Richard Lane, ‘The scene appears as though
Figure 11a hewn of one piece from a solid block of marble.’ Hokusai ensures
that the eroticism comes to life in the image from our imagination.
The composition is so splendidly impressive with the naked bodies: not
so much intertwined, as merged together.

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39
 Issue 02
08-2019 Biting His Lip

The A little uncomfortable is what describes the eleventh design (Fig.12a)

Anatomy of of the album best. It depicts a jealous female who both draws her lover
Hokusai’s
Rarest
to her and then, biting his lip, accuses him of sharing his devotions in
Shunga another place. The male is stretching his arms against the floor as the
Series girl raises her lips to his, in the process, one large hair-pin falling off.
This image is the least explicit in the series and probably was a device
to lead us, the viewer, into the next, final scene of the set.

Figure 12a

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41
 Issue 02
08-2019 Male Escorts

The Hokusai saves the most curious tableau for last. This final image
Anatomy of (Fig.13a) shows us a vigorous shapely widow calmly measures the
Hokusai’s
Rarest
enduring passionate potential of her three fatigued lovers. Each of
Shunga the contenders has to balance two heavy strings of Chinese coins on
Series their phallus, not only to affirm their sexual skills, but also their rank as
male escorts.

Tormentor
Figure 13a The men feel intimidated by their “tormentor” and complain: “I’ve never
seen such an insatiable woman. Seven times, and she still wants more;
I’ve had enough...I feel dizzy.” To which the fearsome woman mercilessly
replies: “You fellows are too young to give up so easily...after I finish a
smoke. I’ll give each of you two more tries to prove your manhood.”

Additionally, the relentless woman insistently pokes her long smoking-

pipe with its red-hot bowl towards the collection of reluctant, though,
well-rewarded penises.

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43
 Issue 02
08-2019

The Well, with this striking image we finish our journey into the erotic
Anatomy of universe of one of Japan’s greatest artistic geniuses. Thanks a lot for
Hokusai’s
Rarest
your interest and we would be grateful if you would let us know your
Shunga thoughts on this eBook!
Series

Figure 13c
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Katsushika Hokusai’s talent, mania
and perseverance for portraying
nature in all its facets was the
reason he excelled in all ukiyo-e
genres including the erotic subject
of shunga.

This was an important genre of

Japanese painting, prints and
book illustration, and to which,
at the time, no moral stigma
was attached. His early work
(1780s) at first in shunga illustration
was executed in a style close to
his teacher Shunsho (1726-1792).
Unlike his later erotica, these works
are often signed and otherwise
would have been difficult to
distinguish from the work fellow-
students in the Shunsho school.