Introduction + Etymology
You might have noticed that in the title, the name, Shibari is used to describe Japanese rope bondage but in actuality, the name itself does not quite fit. Why? Well, in Japanese, shibari means “to bind or tie”, which is too simplistic a word for the intricacy and intimacy that is the art of Japanese rope bondage.
Although more commonly known in Western circles as Shibari, in Japan, it’s referred to as Kinbaku, which roughly translates into “tight binding”. Kin means “tight” and baku means “restraint”; and the name is given to a type of erotic practice and art where intricate knots and weaved and tied around individuals in order to bind and or/suspend them. Alternatively, it can also be called, Kinbaku-bi, which literally means, “the beauty of tight binding.” Kinbaku can be used to achieve erotic or artistic goals.
Origins + Backstory
Kinbaku has its roots surprisingly tied up in an ancient martial arts practice known as Hojojitsu or “restraining rope technique”.
Also referred to as Torinawajutsu and Nawajutsu, both of which mean “rope technique”, this martial art specializes in using ropes to capture, restrain, and immobilize individuals. Often taught as an advanced study of Jujutsu, students of Hojojitsu learn to use nawa (name for “rope” in Japanese) to restrain and limit an individual’s movements.
Hojojitsu was eventually adopted by Samurai and law enforcement to capture and bind prisoners in Japan during the Edo period of 1603 to 1868; and its techniques were seen as a sort of precursor to the contemporary handcuffs. However, handcuffs seem primitive compared to the delicate and methodical knots of Hojojitsu as the techniques and patterns of binding and restraining an individual reflected the student’s knowledge of human anatomy. This led to Hojojitsu not only being highly effective for keeping individuals bound but also showcased how aesthetically pleasing the art was.
From Practicality to Sensuality
The art of Hojojitsu took an interesting turn sometime in the 20th century and was sexualized by Seio Ito, who is now considered to be the founding father of the modern day Kinbaku.
Ito was a Japanese painter who lived from 1882 to 1961 and a lot of his works was influenced by a Kabuki play – a type of Japanese dance-drama – he saw at the tender age of 14. The play, involving bondage used for torture, was seen as the foundation for Ito’s work, many of which involved photographing and painting bound and disheveled women in vulnerable and compromising positions. One of his most famous pieces is that of a painting of his pregnant wife suspended from kinbaku ropes, leading to the art of suspension being a common aspect of kinbaku practice now.
Ito’s art was seen to be explicitly sadomasochistic, tying kinbaku to the darker side of sex and sensuality. His works also set the stage for the Ero-Guro Movement (Erotic Grotesque Movement) in the 20s and 30s, where many artists, influenced by Ito, sought to create works in a similar vein.
Present Day Kinbaku
Kinbaku nowadays is a practice for intimate purposes though it is not always a precursor to sex. For some, it’s a performance; for others an intimate act to be closer to their partner(s). Whatever the reason, one thing all kinbaku sessions have in common is that it’s a blatant depiction of power dynamics and power play of control and submission.
There are two general roles in kinbaku:
- The dominant rope top, also known as the rigger, who is in charge of tying, restraining, and immobilizing someone
- The submissive rope bottom or model, who consents to being tied up, restrained, suspended, and/or immobilized
Rope Types
Practitioners of kinbaku favor rope made of natural materials such as hemp, linen, or jute as the natural fibers easily interlock when tied or knotted. This allows for more creativity and freedom because rope bottoms can be easily bound by the mere friction of twisting and turning the rope; and for beginner rope tops, simple knots.
Ropes made from natural materials are known as asanawa – “asa” meaning hemp and “nawa” meaning rope. They are generally 4mm to 6mm in diameter and between 7m to 8m long though these diameters and lengths have been adapted to accommodate the bigger physicality of individuals in the West.
Kinbaku Rope Patterns and Techniques
There are numerous types of kinbaku rope patterns and techniques, many of which are used in tandem with each other. The basis for most kinbaku ties is called ushiro takate kote, which is where rope bottoms have their upper body and/or breasts captured by rope while their arms are tied behind their backs in a “U” shape. Other common rope patterns and techniques used in kinbaku include:
- Katate kubi shibari – single wrist binding
- Ryoute kubi shibari – binding both wrists
- Mata nawa shibari – crotch rope tie (also known as sakura or matanawa, this is where a rope is placed directly between a woman’s labia to apply pressure to the vulva. The rope is held in place by winding and tying it around the participant’s waist. It’s referred to as a type of chastity belt and in BDSM sessions, it’s used as a part of a tease and deny scene)
- Ebi shibari – shrimp binding (this technique involves the rope bottom to sit cross-legged while their ankles are tied together. The remaining rope is wound around the rope bottom’s neck and back down to the ankles before it’s progressively tightened in order to bring the ankles up to the head. It was originally an interrogation and torture method used in Japan over 300 years ago)
- Sakasa ebi shibari – reverse shrimp binding or the Japanese hogtie
Misconceptions about Kinbaku
A common misconception about kinbaku is that it’s degrading, painful, and/or violent. While it can be, depending on what all parties involved agree for the scene, the art is mostly about pleasure. Rope bottoms can go into a sort of meditative trance from being tied up or suspended and because the knots are deliberately positioned over pressure points on the body, being bound and restrained can actually have a relaxing effect. For rope tops, the attention to detail needed for learning the different intricate knots and techniques can be incredibly satisfying and even meditative as they strive to perfect their art.
Are you feeling a little knotted up after reading this? Need to relieve some tension? Well, ecchiTOKYO’s website is a simple click away and I’m sure you’ll be all tied up and distracted by all the delightful goodies they have on offer. Enjoy!
