Shunga, or images of spring, are erotic depictions from Japans 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, usually achieved with a woodblock print process. Shunga appeared in romance novels and instructive albums for young wives, and were even carried by samurai for luck. This book provides an introduction into the world of shunga with a selection of striking full-color images. Pithy text, including descriptions of the historical and cultural settings of the prints, helps explain what this erotica meant to the people of the time.