Kokigami: The Roots

Origins

 
The sensuous practise of Kokigami originated from the ancient Japanese art form of giving beautifully wrapped gifts.

Some contemporary practitioners of Kokigami have joined together to create this site to share with you their experiences of pleasure and to offer insights and suggestions on how you too can enhance your future sensuous adventures.

The origins of Kokigami have traditionally been the subject of spirited academic debate. On the one side are those who claim it has direct links with origami, the art of paper folding, while on the other are those who consider it owes its genesis to kirigami, or cut art.

It seems likely however that it predated both of these paper forms, as erotic prints (shunga) clearly show the little paper costume in use as early as the eighth century. In recent times there seems to be a general consensus amongst Oriental and Western scholars alike that Kokigami probably evolved from the ancient Japanese art of Tsutsumi or packaging.

By the middle of the Heian period (794-1185), Japan's great golden era of artistic development, Kokigami had become firmly established as a path to sensual enlightenment amongst the aristocratic classes. But it was not until the late eighteenth century, when the price of paper fell, that it ceased to be the exclusive preserve of the rich and became popular with all strata of Japanese society. In recent years Kokigami has attracted a lot of interest from psychotherapists in America and it seems likely that this ancient art will soon enjoy a new popularity in the West.

Origins Who uses it? Joining in!