Rope bondage

An example of rope bondage at BoundCon  [ de ], Germany, 2008

Rope used in erotic bondage is usually soft to avoid chafing the skin, and easy to twist and straighten

A playful, less restrictive form of rope bondage is a common magic trick at cabaret performances

Rope bondage, also referred to as rope play, kinbaku, shibari or fesselspiele, is bondage involving the use of rope to restrict movement, wrap, suspend, or restrain a person, as part of BDSM activities. ^[1] Japanese bondage is the most publicly visible style of rope bondage. An alternative style, "Western bondage" is about achieving restraint; the Japanese style is more concerned with the artistry of the process. ^[2] String bondage is the wrapping of rows of string around a body area for arousal. String bondage is also known as "constrictions". ^{[3] [4]}

History

Rope bondage derives from the erotic Japanese bondage art form of shibari, which was in turn developed from the now-defunct Japanese military restraint technique of hojōjutsu. ^{[5] [6]} The rope dress is not of itself a form of restraint, but is used either by itself as an adornment, or incorporated into restraining bondage. ^[7]

Materials

Bondage ropes used come in a variety of materials and length. Japanese bondage traditionally uses natural fibers such as hemp and jute which are cut into approximately 25 foot (7.6 m) lengths. Western-style bondage typically uses longer ropes that span a wider variety of materials.^{[ clarification needed ]}

• Ropes (typically of a nylon or cotton variety)
• Household furniture

Technique

Main article: Bondage positions and methods

Spreadeagle position

A four-poster bed is sometimes used to hold the subject in a spreadeagle position. The wrists and ankles are tied to the bed's vertical columns, thus restraining the arms and legs.

X-cross

Main article: X-cross (BDSM)

Woman tied to an X-cross

The X-cross is shaped like the letter 'X'. The points of each section act as anchor points for restraining the arms and legs.

Chair tie

See also: Bondage positions and methods § Frogtie

A woman bound to a chair at BoundCon 2013

A chair tie is a form of furniture bondage, a bondage technique which has multiple forms. It typically places the subject in a chair with wrists bound to the arm rests of the chair or bound behind the subject's back and behind the back rest. The subject's ankles are generally tied to the legs of the chair, and additional ropes are sometimes used to keep the subject fully secure. A chair tie is occasionally combined with suspension bondage.^{[ citation needed ]}

Suspension bondage

Main article: Suspension bondage

An example of suspension bondage at the Exxxotica Expo in 2013

Hogtie

See also: Bondage positions and methods § Hogtie bondage

A woman who has been hogtied

The subject is restrained at the wrists and ankles with all four joints converging together while the subject rests on either their back or (more commonly) stomach.

See also

• Bondage positions and methods
• Human furniture

References

1. Boys, Two (2006). Two Knotty Boys Showing You the Ropes. City: Green Candy Press. ISBN   1-931160-49-X.^{[ page needed ]}
2. Winkler, Lawrence (2016). Samurai Road. Bellatrix. ISBN   9780991694181 . Retrieved 23 August 2019– via Google Books.
3. "string bondage - Dictionary of Sexual Terms". Sex-Lexis.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
4. "Sexual Practices Encyclopedia". Ex-Designz.Net. Archived from the original on 14 November 2002.
5. Bacarr, Jina (2004). The Japanese Art of Sex. Berkeley: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN   1-880656-84-1.^{[ page needed ]}
6. Morey, Craig (2001). The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage. City: Greenery Press (CA). ISBN   1-890159-38-7.^{[ page needed ]}
7. Levitte, Joshuah (17 March 2013). "Karada Rope Dress". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2013.