Pages:  HOME | ABOUT THE KINSEY GALLERY | DONATING TO THE KI GALLERY | THE KINSEY INSTITUTE | CONTACT | MORE EXHIBITIONS | JURIED ART SHOW
Portfolios:  EROS IN ASIA | THE STORYTELLERS | 'INFINITELY VARIABLE' Herbert Ascherman, Jr. | WOMEN OF PLEASURE | PRE-REVOLUTIONARY QUEER

EROS IN ASIA

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Japan Couple in coitus with pillow book, from (Ehon) tsui no hinagata (Patterns of Loving Couples) series, c.1812-14 Woodblock print 250Q H7218.1h Donated in 1985 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Japan Couple in coitus with pillow book, from (Ehon) tsui no hinagata (Patterns of Loving Couples) series, c.1812-14 Woodblock print 250Q H7218.1h Donated in 1985 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission.

This title underscores the difficulties of shunga translation. The word tsui can be interpreted as “couple” or “male and female pairs”. However, Hokusai may have been creating a play on words, as tsui can also be pronounced tsubi, an archaic term for ‘vulva’. The translation “Patterns of Loving Couples” does not acknowledge this sexual connotation. Another title could be “interlocking patterns’ which would refer to kimono patterns, but also ‘sample’, twisting the title into “Samples of Vulvas”.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Japan Couple in coitus with pillow book, from (Ehon) tsui no hinagata (Patterns of Loving Couples) series, c.1812-14 Woodblock print 250Q H7218.1h Donated in 1985 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Japan Couple in coitus, in front of wall sign, from (Ehon) tsui no hinagata (Patterns of Loving Couples) series, c.1812-14 Woodblock print 250Q H7218.1b Donated in 1985 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist,Japan Two pages from pillow book,19th century Woodblock prints 250q a011.1-2 Donation date unknown Unknown artist, Japan Embracing couple viewing an erotic scroll, mid 19th century Woodblock print 250Q A062a Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Japan Male and female genitalia, early 19th century Woodblock print 250q a048 Donated in 1954 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Japan Two women engaged in sexual activity with a dildo, 19th century Woodblock print 250Q A015 Donated in 1977 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Artist of the Toyokuni School, Japan Six scenes of sexual behavior, late 19th or early 20th century Woodblock prints E712 A1 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Artist of the Toyokuni School, Japan Six scenes of sexual behavior, late 19th or early 20th century Woodblock prints E712 A1 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Artist of the Toyokuni School, Japan Six scenes of sexual behavior, late 19th or early 20th century Woodblock prints E712 A1 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Artist of the Toyokuni School, Japan Six scenes of sexual behavior, late 19th or early 20th century Woodblock prints E712 A1 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Artist of the Toyokuni School, Japan Six scenes of sexual behavior, late 19th or early 20th century Woodblock prints E712 A1 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Artist of the Toyokuni School, Japan Six scenes of sexual behavior, late 19th or early 20th century Woodblock prints E712 A1 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Japan Man preparing to penetrate woman, date unknown Woodblock print 250R A296 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Japan Illustrations from a sex manual, 19th century Woodblock print 250Q A053a-b Donated in 1954 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825), Japan Dead man begging for mercy, 1800-1825? Woodblock print 250Q T7565.1b Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864), Japan Illustration from Kumadori Shujin’s Koi no Yatsu Fuji; Nanso Satomi Hakkenden (Legend of eight days), c. 1830-1840 Woodblock print 250Q K965.1d Donated in 1954 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Japan Man and woman in coitus, late 19th century Paint on paper 250R A303.1 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Huang Yi Kai (1580-1622), China Su E Pian (Lady of the Moon), c. 1610 Engraving E711 A13 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Huang Yi Kai (1580-1622), China Su E Pian (Lady of the Moon), c. 1610 Engraving E711 A13 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Huang Yi Kai (1580-1622), China Su E Pian (Lady of the Moon), c. 1610 Engraving E711 A13 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, China Man and woman in bed, with attendant, c.1750 Gouache on paper 218P A003.1 Donated in 1969 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, China Man and woman on a bed, each holding one of the woman’s shoes, c.1750 Gouache on paper 218P A003.2 Donated in 1969 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, China Man and woman sitting in a room, c.1750 Gouache on paper 218P A003.4 Donated in 1969 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, China Man and woman in coitus in charcoal shop, 19th century Paint and ink on paper 218Q A007.2 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, China Woman reclining on a bed with two cats, 1930s Reproduction of painting 218R A060 Donated in 1931 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Iran Two men engaging in anal sex, 1660-1720 (or later) Gouache on paper 172P A001.2 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Iran Two men engaging in anal sex, 1660-1720 (or later) Gouache on paper 172P A001.2 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Iran Two men engaged in sexual activity, 19th century Pencil on paper 172Q A001.3 Donated in 1948 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Iran Couple engaged in coitus, next to an older man, undated Paint on paper Unknown artist, Iran Man and woman engage in coitus on swing, early 20th century Paint on paper 172R A005b Donated in 1981 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, India Man and woman in coitus on a terrace, early 20th century Paint on paper 238R A036 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, India Man and woman in coitus, 20th century Paint on paper 238R A032.8 Donation date unknown This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. D. Boldgarav, Mongolia Man and woman engaged in coitus while riding a horse, 2008 Ink on paper 2009.1.1 Donated in 2009 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Unknown artist, Turkey Human couples contained within the figure of a lion, undated Paint on paper 2006.47.75 Donated in 2006 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Muqarris (?), Turkey Two men engaging in anal sex, 2003 Paint on paper 2006.47.74 Donated in 2006 This image is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission.