by
Tatu
There are basically two different schools in the world of bondage. For our purposes here, we will generally refer to them as Western School and Eastern School. First we will examine a brief history of each and then take a look at the stylistic differences. Eastern School / Japanese Bondage Japanese rope bondage as an erotic art form, really is not that old. Many labor under the illusion that it goes back for centuries, but in reality is only a few decades old going back to only the late 1800's or early 1900's. Hojojutsu on the other hand was the Japanese martial art of using a rope (torinawa) to capture, restrain and transport suspects and criminals in Japan during the Middle Ages and Early Modern periods; practiced by the Torimono, but there was nothing sensuous about it. Because bondage was considered a shameful practice, the legal captor used no knots thus out of respect allowed the person arrested no shame. According to Dr. Richard Clever's translations of law enforcement manuals from the Edo Period in 1998, there were four rules of hojojutsu:
1. Not to allow the prisoner to slip his bonds. Source: Dr Richard Cleaver's translation of Edo Period Law Enforcement documents. See: Hojojutsu by Dr Richard Cleaver
Japanese and Torture Rope was not only a form of restraint for prisoners, but also used as a cruel torture technique in order to compel a confession. See: Torture by Dr Richard Cleaver Torture was used both by officials of the Tokugawa Shogunate and by individual citizens during the Edo Period (1603-1867). We can see forms of these techniques in these early 20th Century drawings by Ito Seiu which follow. **Click the pictures to see larger images.
4) Tsurizeme or Tsurushi-zeme. The final form of torture was a "backwards suspension". The prisoner would be tied at the wrists and perhaps ankles and with arms pulled behind the back, suspended face down. Heavy stones would be added on the back or shoulders to make it more painful.
UKIYO-E The Pictures of the Floating World There is an entire artistic genre' that exploded during the Tokugawa period (1615-1868) known as Ukiyo-e produced with a technique of wood block printing. This was the 250 year period when the Tokugawa shoguns ruled and Edo became the center of power. This was a time when Japan was extremely isolated from the rest of the world and the artistic side to culture exploded dominated with teahouses, geisha, kabuki theatre & courtesans. Many of these pictures were seen in advertisements, or posters about a new play, or a teahouse. Some of the images seen were most likely popular actors or famous geisha of their time.
Originally, this was an art for the common people, the lower classes. The
word itself first refered to the simple or lowly life. Later it came to mean
something like "a transitory life of pleasure". It was this art form that
gave rise to the first erotic images of Japanese Rope, the Japanese Style
of tattoo and Shunga.
Within UKIYO-E for the past few hundred years images of explicit sexual art surfaced in Japan, generally known as "Shunga". Images of sex acts both heterosexual and homosexual featuring prominent genitalia were popularized. These explicit acts also included masturbation, orgies, etc.
Early Kinbaku Artist and Master, Ito Sieu replicated this image using his own pregnant wife in photo images in the early 20th century. In the late 1900's as the Samurai art of Hojo-jutsu was outlawed with the Meiji Restoration, more and more images of rope for erotic bondage purposes surfaced. Ito became known as a "seme-e" torture artist, and the "Father of Modern Kinbaku".
In time the Japanese art form evolved and became generally characterized by: (1) Rendering of the captive powerless and helpless which was combined with other very Asian concepts. (2) The aesthetic aspect. Most are well aware of the significance that beauty has in Japanese culture. As in the presentation of the flower the submissive is presented as beautiful art. (3) Add to those the idea of erotic massage. Some claim to incorporate the ancient oriental healing systems using pressure points, thus the practices of acupressure and acupuncture. Using ropes and knots to massage those pressure points is a third facet. What I have learned from my contacts in Japan is that this is largely myth, however erotic touch is nice sensual component that can be used with rope. There is a fourth facet to this diamond we know as Japanese Bondage. (4) Time. Stillness, beauty, erotic massage and time, as the Asian perceives it... and you have the modern Japanese styled bondage as we know it. Bondage takes time and patience. (like growing of bonsai). The submissive experiences the inner soul, the beauty as she relaxes and focuses on her inner pleasure in the experience. On the inside there may be a peace, but on the outside their can also be struggle. Japan is historically is a "shame culture", and this is often expressed in the outward movements and expressions seen in the face of the m-jo. Japanese Bondage sometimes features tighter bondage, and would commonly use a rougher natural fiber rope like hemp. Yet struggle is not always desired, but total stillness, so an erotic meditative journey of pleasure can be taken. Emphasis is on the mind. Notice the serene look on the faces of Japanese bondage models. She is not an unwilling captive; she may act like she is, but in reality is a willing participant. There is an introspection, a soul stillness if you will. The emphasis is on beauty and art, breathing and meditation. It is a decorative and sensual art. Within Japanese Bondage there are at least two different practices: A. The traditional Sado-masochistic approach which was handed down from the torturous practices of the Edo period is a harsh form and emphasizes pain, suffering, humiliation and the bondage itself is the basic goal. Pleasure or erotic stimulation is a byproduct of this basic goal. No one has to tell you that the Asian culture historically have been masters at the art of cruel torture techniques. Remember "Chinese Water Torture?" drip drip drip.... until one is driven mad. Often accompanying this type of bondage are techniques like nose torture, tit torture, hair bondage, candle waxing, pushing pressure points and the use of bamboo clamps. B. A second and yet modern practice has as its main goal sensuous or erotic stimulation. The Japanese have always been an odd confusing mixture of the ugly, torturous and the beautiful and artistic. With this sensuous form the key for the submissive is to use her mind to achieve pleasure. By binding her, she is forced into stillness and stimulating her body specifically with various sensuous touch or massaging shiatsu pressure points over long periods of time, or pushing the body's own natural energy paths; the mind is stimulated to unimaginable places. To the westerner this may sound hoaky, but by allowing your captive time in bondage her mind begins to meditatively travel into the deep recesses of her inner self. The goal of this journey is the release of the body's pleasure sensors, natural endorphins if you will, the goal being to achieve a natural orgasmic high. The Japanese call this "Ky or Ki or Chi", which is simply concentrating mental and physical energy on one area of the body. The use of floggers, canes, any corporal implements etc would be considered an interruption to the goal of this form of Japanese bondage.
Kinbaku - Shibari By the 1950's "kinbaku" (bondage), began to be referred to as "Shibari" in Japan, taken from the verb, which means "to tie", practitioners made it into a noun to describe the art of tying. This new Japanese Erotic Rope Art was seen in certain bondage clubs and comics (Manga) in the later half of the 20th century in Japan. This new Kinbaku / Shibari is generally characterized by the following: * Ties are roughly based upon some historic Hojojutsu forms done with the devotion and development of skill as in any martial art. * Tied with natural fiber rope (hemp), generally 7-8 meters in length. * Must be beautiful to look at.
Traditional Kinbaku / Shibari
Western Bondage
Western History
In the story the the Warrior Queen of Iceland, Brunhilde, a powerful woman who ruled alone was pursued by King Gunther of Germany, who desired a wife worthy of his status. After defeating Gunther in various contests, she finally lost a contest to Sifrit, who was supposed to be Gunther's vassal, but in reality was his brother-in-law; and Brunhilde declared Gunther her King. She however had vowed to remain a virgin until certain matters had been resolved. While Gunther was making his moves, Brunhilde, tied him up with the sash of her robe, leaving him unsatisfied. Gunther sought assistance from his brother in law, Sifrit, and the next night in the dark they subdued her. While trying to use her own braided silk sash she caught her own wrist, and Sifrit, tied her, and Gunther deflowered his virgin wife. Essentially it was an act of marital rape, erotic only in the eyes of some. With the loss of her virginity, she lost her strength and power, and became submissive in every way to her husband. There are several versions of this saga floating around. The picture to the right shows a pencil drawing from 1807 of the story taken from the Niebelung Saga (X, 648-50).
John Willie (John Alexander Scott Coutts)
(December 9, 1902 - August 5, 1962) His first published works were in London Life Magazine's December 28, 1935 issue. Around 1945 is when he moved to New York City and began sporatically publishing 20 issues of "Bizarre Magazine" (1946 -1959) which featured his fetish and bondage art. It was at this time he began using the name John Willie.
He is most remembered for his "Sweet Gwendoline Series".
This has been disputed however by Belier Press which inherited the rights to John Willie's works. It is acknowledged however that he recieved magazines reportedly from a US Air Force physician circa 1958-59. It has also be noted that there was some relationship, as a number of his Willie's images appeared in Japanese Magazines in the 1950's & 60's.
After it was revealed that he had a brain tumor and a visit by the
US Postal Service that John Willie destroyed his archives and subsequently
moved back to England in early 1962 where he died on August
5, 1962.
The "pin up" genre in art can actually be traced back to the late 1800's. Another noticeable practice in the use of the pin up at that time was what we know as "nose art". This was the practice of painting pinups on the nose of military aircraft. One of the most popular artists that was used was Alberto Vargas.
Image by Vargas
Bettie Page - Irving Klaw
Then after World War II, Bettie Page a secretary by trade and
models were burlesque performers, Blaze Starr and Tempest Storm. Customer demand for more kinkier images, led to bondage images and films using Bettie Page who would become his "bondage queen".
It has been reported that Bettie Page was also supoenaed and was present for the hearings to testify, but was never never called to testify. This is in dispute, although it was represented that way in the movie: "The Notorious Bettie Page". Out of fear of prosecution and jail, the investigations brought Klaw's business to an end. In a panic, he destroyed about three-fourth of his inventory of negatives, but sister Paula secretly kept and hid away the rest, and history is thankful for her foresight and actions. Bettie's modeling career closed out about that time. However, as with most moral or puritanical crusades by politicians, these hearings only served to publicize the bondage world far more than if things had just been left alone. Irving would die in 1966 of a ruptured appendix.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Western, generally features a bondage using softer ropes {*mmmmph....gags}. Struggling, sensual moans, etc. are key elements in the mutual pleasure of all participants. The words "captor" and "captive" are often used rather that Dominant, Master, submissive or slave. In fact many who are into bondage do not relate to the modern BDSM movement at all. Ladies (or men) who fantasize {emphasis on fantasy... this is a consensual activity} being overpowered, forced etc.... love this style of bondage. In some cases it may be used to help the captive cross a barrier such as dealing with issues of "shame" related to sex, or being introduced to a new activity such anal sex or having pubic hair shaved. Or it may help the submissive feel safe enough to find the serenity of her subspace. Rope Bondage play among consenting adults gained popularity in late 20th century in the west, largely due to the combination of the culturally ingrained sexual repression of American puritanical society, where often pleasure is seen as sinful, or slutty or shameful unless it is done as the religionists define, which is generally for procreation not pleasure. Add also the media obsession with sexual images in advertising and we have a society with enough mixed messages to drive anyone to the counselor's chair. This is the same mentality that has made romance novels the #1 sellers in this country. Visions of a powerful man swooping a woman off her feet and overpowering her in evil / romantic sort of way. "mmmmm"Stop... Don't, Stop... Don't mmmmmm... Don't Stop" Therefore some women often see it pleasurable to be "consensually forced into pleasure via bondage", sometimes in order to help them overcome their puritanical ingrained inhibitions. "That mean man did it to me, he forced me {to feel this pleasure}". Then on the other hand, many women and men just like being tied up. They enjoy the sensuality of the ropes, the time it takes to apply and remove the ropes is simply a much needed answer to the desire for foreplay and aftercare. I'm told the latest research indicates that up to 30% of American couples have used bondage as part of their intimate and erotic activities.
References: http://americanfetish.net/sexresearch.us (Robert V. Bienvenu II, Ph.D.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Willie http://www.jahsonic.com/JohnWillie.html http://www.belierpress.com ( J. B. Rund )
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John Alexander
Scott Coutts was an Englishman, born in Singapore, who would later go by
the name of John Willie. He had an enormous part in bringing bondage and
fetish images to the west via his drawings and photography. He then lived
in in Austrlia from circa 1925 to 1945.
In
the 1940's and 50's the "pin-up" image stormed into the western consciousness
from the World War II era when Hollywood actresses, most notably Bettie Grable,
whose images were circulated among the GI's as encouragement and inspiration,
to stir memories of home and something to fight for.
Image
above of Bettie Page in Bondage Photo by Irving Klaw
Image (C) .jpg)
Kefauver
(Democrat from Tennessee and presidential hopeful) would lead the crusade
to investigate the exploitation of the American Worker by the Mafia. Around
1955 his crusade morphed into a "Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency"
(with a young attorney, Robert Kennedy on his staff). Robert Kennedy was
actually on McCarthy's staff for a few months, but resigned when it became
apparent that McCarthy's anti Communist campaign revealed a image that was
not good for his career. Kefauver would subpoenaed Irving Klaw and his sister
Paula to testify before this committee. Irving would plead the 5th to all
questions.
