Japanese art is full of surprises, including rowdy depictions of phallic contests, intercourse tournaments, and the unforgettable he-gassen fart battles. Bawdy, boisterous and downright delightful, the he-gassen scrolls first came to Western attention in 2012 when the Daily Mail published an article linking them with Edo-era xenophobia. But, is there any truth to rumors linking Japanese fart battles with political commentary on Japan’s distrust of European influence?
He-gassen, meaning “fart competitions,” were Japanese art scrolls depicting flatulence humor. A trend which first appeared during the Heian period (794 to 1185), one of the most famous of these handscrolls is owned by Waseda University Library . On it is a note stating it was an 1846 copy of a 1680 original.
The Waseda scroll features characters unleashing their flatulent fury like you’ve never seen before. Thunderous blasts abound in this mother of he-gassen fart battles, where entire villages are destroyed, trees uprooted and animals propelled into the air by the sheer force of flatulence. Meanwhile, hapless targets try to defend themselves with facemasks and fans, in a series of humorous scenes which will literally blow you away.
The flatulence on display at the farting battles of the he-gassen handscrolls were even able to pierce a hole in the shoji screen walls of Japanese homes. ( Public domain )
Without citing any sources, the Daily Mail labeled the “sinister” he-gassen handscroll a political commentary on…
