Shibari the sacred bond

Shibari is the ancient Japanese art of bondage. But it is not just about knots. Actually, their practitioners consider Shibari the sacred bond.

Kinbaku is a variation of Shibari, whichtakes the skill of tying into a more emotional and sensual direction. Shibari and Kinbaku are two of the most popular BDSM practices in Western culture. Shibari and Kinbaku combine history, meaning, beauty, and significance.

Whether it is erotic or not, the art of tying has developed mainly in Japan, and the use of rope has been part of the social and cultural tradition for many many years. from the beautiful patterns made by jute ropes in pottery pieces to the carefully wrapped gifts, which come from the story of the Zen master Eso Takata, who gave an intricately wrapped package to Jodorowsky. Once he unwrapped the package, after much effort, he discovered it was empty. This was because the real gift was the ephemeral and unrepeatable aesthetic experience of undoing the beautiful and complicated tie.

Ties have always had an important role in Japan. Ropes called shimenawa signal sacred places, such as temples, trees and places where spirits live.

Japan’s ability to ritualize and beautify everyday activities, from tea ceremonies to calligraphy to flower arrangements, also come into play with ropes. With them, masters create complicated and aesthetical patterns combined with different things. Even in school, there are bondage courses. In these, the students combine the colour, thickness and material of the rope according to the season of the year.

Although Japan also used rope to restrain and torture prisoners, the rope was considered a sacred element, which was also used to decorate things with aesthetic and intricate patterns.

Now yo know why bondage enthusiasts consider Shibari the sacred bond.

Image: Shape Magazine