Shunga: The Essence of Japanese Pillow-Book Eroticism (Essence of Erotica series)

Presenting the best of the Shunga scrolls from the 12th to the 18th centuries, this guide goes back to one of the earliest sources of erotic literature to uncover ancient lessons for achieving sexual pleasure. Shunga, the famous Japanese erotic pillow books, were written and illustrated in Japan during the period of the Shogunate and the Samurai. During this period, masculine characteristics were prominent in the figure of the Samurai warrior, while the famous Geishas, women who were talented in the arts, embodied feminine characteristics. It was during this period that the Japanese noble and moneyed classes could put into practice everything they learned in the pillow books, and pleasure districts thrived. Originally written on scrolls, the Shunga offered erotic poems and stories as well as sex advice.