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The older man in the relationship, known as the ''nenja'' (念者), and the younger man, known by a variety of terms including ''[[wakashu|wakashû]]'' (若衆), formed a close, tight personal relationship with one another. A ''nenja'' typically engaged in such relationships with only one ''wakashû'' at a time, and vice versa. Though much discussion today, based in modern/Western social mores about homosexual relationships, focus strongly on the homosexual sexual acts involved in the relationship, ''shudô'' relationships went beyond this, and were strong personal and sentimental or emotional relationships, which involved as well strong elements of mentorship. Mentorship and training in the "warrior" lifestyle and values of the samurai was a major element of the relationship.
The older man in the relationship, known as the ''nenja'' (念者), and the younger man, known by a variety of terms including ''[[wakashu|wakashû]]'' (若衆), formed a close, tight personal relationship with one another. A ''nenja'' typically engaged in such relationships with only one ''wakashû'' at a time, and vice versa. Though much discussion today, based in modern/Western social mores about homosexual relationships, focus strongly on the homosexual sexual acts involved in the relationship, ''shudô'' relationships went beyond this, and were strong personal and sentimental or emotional relationships, which involved as well strong elements of mentorship. Mentorship and training in the "warrior" lifestyle and values of the samurai was a major element of the relationship.
From the medieval period, if not earlier, the Japanese considered homosexual acts and relationships as simply a matter of taste or preference, and as something which simply varied from person to person, and over time. While Confucian teachings place a strong emphasis on family, and on proper relationships with one's parents, spouse, and children, there was no parallel in Japanese tradition to the biblical bans on such activities. The specific mode of ''shûdô'' male-male relationships, particular to the samurai class, emerged in the medieval period, and by the Edo period was likely seen as a firmly entrenched traditional custom.<ref>[[Eiko Ikegami]], ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 269-270.</ref>
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==References==
==References==
*Maki Morinaga, "The Gender of Onnagata as the Imitating Imitated," ''positions'' 10:2 (2002), 245-284.
*Maki Morinaga, "The Gender of Onnagata as the Imitating Imitated," ''positions'' 10:2 (2002), 245-284.
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==See Also==
*[[Chigo]] - young boys within the Buddhist tradition, who sometimes had a similar sort of relationship with adult Buddhist monks
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]
[[Category:Edo Period]]
[[Category:Edo Period]]
