Bishōnen - Revision history

Etenne: /* Art */

2015-07-02T21:42:50Z

Art

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	[[File:Tadzio_audition.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Björn Andrésen]] at 16 years of age during his audition for the role of Tadzio \|alt= Caucasian male with tousled blond hair to the jawline, head turned to the left.]]		[[File:Tadzio_audition.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Björn Andrésen]] at 16 years of age during his audition for the role of Tadzio \|alt= Caucasian male with tousled blond hair to the jawline, head turned to the left.]]

	It is said that [[Björn Andrésen]]'s appearance as Tadzio in the film [[Death in Venice]] inspired many Japanese anime artists, such as [[Keiko Takemiya]], who became known for their depictions of young, effeminate ~~men~~.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://imomus.livejournal.com/342686.html \|title=The adventures of Tadzio in Japan \|date=2008-01-07 \|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>		It is said that [[Björn Andrésen]]'s appearance as Tadzio in the film [[Death in Venice]] inspired many Japanese anime artists, such as [[Keiko Takemiya]], who became known for their depictions of young, effeminate boys.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://imomus.livejournal.com/342686.html \|title=The adventures of Tadzio in Japan \|date=2008-01-07 \|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

	Bishōnen characters are fairly common in [[manga]] and [[anime]]. Many of the male characters show subtle signs of the bishōnen style, such as slender eyes or a [[Femininity\|feminine]] face.<ref name="mmsexuality" />		Bishōnen characters are fairly common in [[manga]] and [[anime]]. Many of the male characters show subtle signs of the bishōnen style, such as slender eyes or a [[Femininity\|feminine]] face.<ref name="mmsexuality" />

Etenne at 21:38, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T21:38:17Z

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	~~{{Draft}}<br>~~{{From Wikipedia\|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen}}		{{From Wikipedia\|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen}}
	'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

Etenne at 21:33, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T21:33:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 2 July 2015
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	'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

	Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>		Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf\|archivedate= 7-2-15}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>

	==Origin==		==Origin==
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	The aesthetic of the ''bishōnen'' was recorded in Lady [[Murasaki Shikibu]]'s ''[[Tale of Genji]]'', written in about the year 1000 A.D. ''Genji'' concerns the exploits and romances of a young prince, the son of an emperor and beloved concubine, who is not in line to inherit the throne, and follows his intrigues through the court as he comes of age. The novel typifies the [[Heian period\|Heian]] age of Japanese history, a period of highly stylized romance. [[Hikaru Genji\|Prince Genji's]] beauty is described as transcendental, so much so that "one could have wished him a woman", with a bewitching attraction that is acknowledged by men and women alike.		The aesthetic of the ''bishōnen'' was recorded in Lady [[Murasaki Shikibu]]'s ''[[Tale of Genji]]'', written in about the year 1000 A.D. ''Genji'' concerns the exploits and romances of a young prince, the son of an emperor and beloved concubine, who is not in line to inherit the throne, and follows his intrigues through the court as he comes of age. The novel typifies the [[Heian period\|Heian]] age of Japanese history, a period of highly stylized romance. [[Hikaru Genji\|Prince Genji's]] beauty is described as transcendental, so much so that "one could have wished him a woman", with a bewitching attraction that is acknowledged by men and women alike.

	[[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]] and [[Amakusa Shirō]] have been identified as historical ''bishōnen''.<ref>Drazen, Patrick (October 2002). '"A Very Pure Thing": Gay and Pseudo-Gay Themes' in ''[[Anime Explosion! The What, Why & Wow of Japanese Animation]]'' Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press pp.91-94. ISBN 1-880656-72-8.</ref> Ian Buruma notes that Yoshitsune was considered by contemporaries to be not physically prepossessing, but that his legend later grew and due to this, he became depicted with good looks.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Buruma\|first=Ian\|authorlink=Ian Buruma\|title=A Japanese Mirror: Heroes and Villains of Japanese Culture\|publisher=Penguin Books\|location=Great Britain\|year=1985\|origyear=1984\|isbn=978-0-14-007498-7\|pages=132–135}}</ref> [[Abe no Seimei]] was depicted according to the standards of a Heian-era middle-aged man, but since 1989 he has been depicted as a modern-style bishonen.<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Miller\|first=Laura\|title=Extreme Makeover for a Heian-Era Wizard\|journal=[[Mechademia]]\|url=http://umsl.academia.edu/LauraMiller/Papers/83064/Extreme_Makeover_for_a_Heian-Era_Wizard}}</ref>		[[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]] and [[Amakusa Shirō]] have been identified as historical ''bishōnen''.<ref>Drazen, Patrick (October 2002). '"A Very Pure Thing": Gay and Pseudo-Gay Themes' in ''[[Anime Explosion! The What, Why & Wow of Japanese Animation]]'' Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press pp.91-94. ISBN 1-880656-72-8.</ref> Ian Buruma notes that Yoshitsune was considered by contemporaries to be not physically prepossessing, but that his legend later grew and due to this, he became depicted with good looks.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Buruma\|first=Ian\|authorlink=Ian Buruma\|title=A Japanese Mirror: Heroes and Villains of Japanese Culture\|publisher=Penguin Books\|location=Great Britain\|year=1985\|origyear=1984\|isbn=978-0-14-007498-7\|pages=132–135}}</ref> [[Abe no Seimei]] was depicted according to the standards of a Heian-era middle-aged man, but since 1989 he has been depicted as a modern-style bishonen.<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Miller\|first=Laura\|title=Extreme Makeover for a Heian-Era Wizard\|journal=[[Mechademia]]\|url=http://umsl.academia.edu/LauraMiller/Papers/83064/Extreme_Makeover_for_a_Heian-Era_Wizard\|archivedate= 7-2-15}}</ref>

	[[Kyokutei Bakin]] wrote many works with [[nanshoku]] undertones featuring bishonen characters,<ref>{{cite book\|last=Reichert\|first=James Robert\|title=In the Company of Men: Representations of Male-male Sexuality in Meiji Literature \|publisher=Stanford University Press\|year=2006\|pages=3–4\|isbn=978-0-8047-5214-5}}</ref> and in 1848 he used the term bishonen in the title of a work about the younger wakashu partner in the nanshoku relationship.<ref name=Orbaugh/>		[[Kyokutei Bakin]] wrote many works with [[nanshoku]] undertones featuring bishonen characters,<ref>{{cite book\|last=Reichert\|first=James Robert\|title=In the Company of Men: Representations of Male-male Sexuality in Meiji Literature \|publisher=Stanford University Press\|year=2006\|pages=3–4\|isbn=978-0-8047-5214-5}}</ref> and in 1848 he used the term bishonen in the title of a work about the younger wakashu partner in the nanshoku relationship.<ref name=Orbaugh/>

Etenne at 21:26, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T21:26:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:26, 2 July 2015
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	{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia\|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen}}		{{Draft}}<br>{{From Wikipedia\|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen}}
	'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

Etenne at 21:25, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T21:25:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:25, 2 July 2015
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	{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}		{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia\|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen}}
	'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

Etenne at 21:22, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T21:22:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:22, 2 July 2015
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	{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}		{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}
	''Bishōnen'' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

	Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>		Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>

Etenne: /* Notes */

2015-07-02T21:20:22Z

Notes

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	==Notes==		==Notes==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist\|2}}

	{{Navbox Japan\|collapsed}}		{{Navbox Japan\|collapsed}}

Etenne: /* Notes */

2015-06-29T13:53:11Z

Notes

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	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	{{~~Use dmy dates~~\|~~date=January 2011~~}}		{{Navbox Japan\|collapsed}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishonen}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishonen}}

Hikari: removed some red links, added pages under "See Also"

2015-06-29T05:49:08Z

removed some red links, added pages under "See Also"

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:49, 29 June 2015
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	{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}		{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}
	''~~Bishonen~~'' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of [[gender]] or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] [[noble court\|imperial court]] and ~~[[intellectual]]s~~, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		''Bishōnen'' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

	Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>		Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>
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	[[File:Kuniyoshi Ishiyakushi.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Yoshitsune, a historical ''bishōnen'' and his retainer Benkei view the falling cherry blossoms.]]		[[File:Kuniyoshi Ishiyakushi.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Yoshitsune, a historical ''bishōnen'' and his retainer Benkei view the falling cherry blossoms.]]

	The prefix ''bi'' ([[wikt:美\|美]]) more often than not refers to ~~[[Gender role\|~~feminine]] beauty, and ''~~[[bijinga\|~~bijin]]'', literally "beautiful person", is usually, though not always, used to refer to beautiful [[women]].<ref name="encycle" /> ''Bichūnen'' means "beautiful middle-aged man".<ref name="imageandnarrative">{{cite web\|url=http://www.imageandnarrative.be/index.php/imagenarrative/article/viewFile/130/101 \|title=On The Iconic Difference between Couple Characters in ''Boys Love'' Manga \|author=Febriani Sihombing}}</ref> ''Biseinen'' is to be distinguished from ''bishōnen'' as ''seinen'' is used to describe men who are of age, including those who have entered or completed tertiary education. The term ''shōnen'' is used to describe boys of middle and high school age. Last, ''bishota'' can be used to refer to a beautiful, [[pre-pubescent]] male child or a childlike male.<ref name="encycle" /> Outside Japan, ''bishōnen'' is the most well-known of the three terms, and has become a generic term for all beautiful boys and young men.		The prefix ''bi'' ([[wikt:美\|美]]) more often than not refers to feminine beauty, and ''bijin'', literally "beautiful person", is usually, though not always, used to refer to beautiful women.<ref name="encycle" /> ''Bichūnen'' means "beautiful middle-aged man".<ref name="imageandnarrative">{{cite web\|url=http://www.imageandnarrative.be/index.php/imagenarrative/article/viewFile/130/101 \|title=On The Iconic Difference between Couple Characters in ''Boys Love'' Manga \|author=Febriani Sihombing}}</ref> ''Biseinen'' is to be distinguished from ''bishōnen'' as ''seinen'' is used to describe men who are of age, including those who have entered or completed tertiary education. The term ''shōnen'' is used to describe boys of middle and high school age. Last, ''bishota'' can be used to refer to a beautiful, [[pre-pubescent]] male child or a childlike male.<ref name="encycle" /> Outside Japan, ''bishōnen'' is the most well-known of the three terms, and has become a generic term for all beautiful boys and young men.

	The aesthetic of the ''bishōnen'' began as an ideal of a young [[Homosexuality\|homosexual]] lover, originally embodied in the ''[[wakashū]]'' (若衆, literally "young person", although only used for boys), or adolescent boy, and was influenced by the [[Oyama (Japanese theatre)\|effeminate male actors]] who played female characters in [[kabuki\|kabuki theater]]. The term arose in the [[Meiji era]], in part to replace the by then obsolete erotic meaning of the older term ''wakashū'', whose general meaning of "adolescent boy" had by this point been supplanted by the new term [[shōnen]].<ref name="mmsexuality" /> The ''bishōnen'' was conceived of as "aesthetically different from both women and men [...] both the antithesis and the antecedent of adult masculinity".<ref>{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|page=228\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>		The aesthetic of the ''bishōnen'' began as an ideal of a young [[Homosexuality\|homosexual]] lover, originally embodied in the ''[[wakashū]]'' (若衆, literally "young person", although only used for boys), or adolescent boy, and was influenced by the [[Oyama (Japanese theatre)\|effeminate male actors]] who played female characters in [[kabuki\|kabuki theater]]. The term arose in the [[Meiji era]], in part to replace the by then obsolete erotic meaning of the older term ''wakashū'', whose general meaning of "adolescent boy" had by this point been supplanted by the new term [[shōnen]].<ref name="mmsexuality" /> The ''bishōnen'' was conceived of as "aesthetically different from both women and men [...] both the antithesis and the antecedent of adult masculinity".<ref>{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|page=228\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>
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	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[~~Bijinga~~]]		* [[Ephebophilia]]
	* [[~~Bishōjo]]~~		* [[Manga and anime]]
	* [[Ephebos]]
	* [[Metrosexual]]

	==Notes==		==Notes==

Hikari at 05:39, 29 June 2015

2015-06-29T05:39:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:39, 29 June 2015
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	{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}		{{Draft}}{{From Wikipedia}}
	~~{{nihongo\|~~'''~~Bishōnen~~'~~''\|[[wikt:~~美少年~~\|美少年]]\|extra=also [[transliteration\|transliterated]] {{Audio\|ja~~-~~bishonen.ogg\|'''bishounen'''}}}}~~ is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an [[aesthetic]] that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose [[beauty]] (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of [[gender]] or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] [[noble court\|imperial court]] and [[intellectual]]s, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		''Bishonen'' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of [[gender]] or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] [[noble court\|imperial court]] and [[intellectual]]s, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

	Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>		Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:42, 2 July 2015
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	[[File:Tadzio_audition.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Björn Andrésen]] at 16 years of age during his audition for the role of Tadzio \|alt= Caucasian male with tousled blond hair to the jawline, head turned to the left.]]		[[File:Tadzio_audition.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Björn Andrésen]] at 16 years of age during his audition for the role of Tadzio \|alt= Caucasian male with tousled blond hair to the jawline, head turned to the left.]]

	It is said that [[Björn Andrésen]]'s appearance as Tadzio in the film [[Death in Venice]] inspired many Japanese anime artists, such as [[Keiko Takemiya]], who became known for their depictions of young, effeminate ~~men~~.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://imomus.livejournal.com/342686.html \|title=The adventures of Tadzio in Japan \|date=2008-01-07 \|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>		It is said that [[Björn Andrésen]]'s appearance as Tadzio in the film [[Death in Venice]] inspired many Japanese anime artists, such as [[Keiko Takemiya]], who became known for their depictions of young, effeminate boys.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://imomus.livejournal.com/342686.html \|title=The adventures of Tadzio in Japan \|date=2008-01-07 \|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

	Bishōnen characters are fairly common in [[manga]] and [[anime]]. Many of the male characters show subtle signs of the bishōnen style, such as slender eyes or a [[Femininity\|feminine]] face.<ref name="mmsexuality" />		Bishōnen characters are fairly common in [[manga]] and [[anime]]. Many of the male characters show subtle signs of the bishōnen style, such as slender eyes or a [[Femininity\|feminine]] face.<ref name="mmsexuality" />

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 2 July 2015
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	'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>		'''Bishōnen''' (美少年; pronounced bee-sho-nen) is a [[Japanese language\|Japanese]] term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in [[East Asia]]: a young man whose beauty (and [[Sexual attraction\|sexual]] appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or [[human sexual behaviour\|sexual orientation]]. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese [[pop culture]], gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s,<ref name=Orbaugh>{{cite book \| last = Orbaugh \| first =Sharalyn \| editor = Sandra Buckley \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 45–56 \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref> but it has roots in ancient [[Japanese literature]], the [[homosocial]] and [[homoerotic]] ideals of the medieval [[China\|Chinese]] noble court\|imperial court and intellectuals, and [[India]]n aesthetic concepts carried over from [[Hinduism]], imported with [[Buddhism]] to [[China]].<ref name="encycle">{{cite book \| last = Buckley \| first = \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture \| publisher = Taylor & Francis \| year = 2002 \| location = \| pages = 188, 522, 553 \| url = \| doi = \| id = \| isbn = 0-415-14344-6 }}</ref>

	Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>		Today, ''bishōnen'' are very popular among girls and women in [[Japan]].<ref name="encycle" /><ref>{{cite journal\|last=Tan\|first=Caroline S.L.\|year=2008\|title=Of Senses and Men's Cosmetics: Sensory Branding in Men's Cosmetics in Japan\|journal=European Journal of Social Sciences\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=7–25\|url=http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_6_1.pdf\|archivedate= 7-2-15}}</ref> Reasons for this [[social phenomenon]] may include the unique male and female [[social relationships]] found within the genre. Some have theorized that ''bishōnen'' provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down [[stereotype]]s surrounding [[Wiktionary:feminine\|feminine]] male characters. These are often depicted with very strong [[martial arts]] abilities, [[sport]]s talent, high intelligence, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist.<ref name="mmsexuality">{{cite book\|last=Pflugfelder\|first=Gregory M.\|title=Cartographies of desire: male-male sexuality in Japanese discourse, 1600-1950\|publisher=University of California Press\|year=1999\|pages=221–234\|isbn=0-520-20909-5}}</ref>

	==Origin==		==Origin==
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	The aesthetic of the ''bishōnen'' was recorded in Lady [[Murasaki Shikibu]]'s ''[[Tale of Genji]]'', written in about the year 1000 A.D. ''Genji'' concerns the exploits and romances of a young prince, the son of an emperor and beloved concubine, who is not in line to inherit the throne, and follows his intrigues through the court as he comes of age. The novel typifies the [[Heian period\|Heian]] age of Japanese history, a period of highly stylized romance. [[Hikaru Genji\|Prince Genji's]] beauty is described as transcendental, so much so that "one could have wished him a woman", with a bewitching attraction that is acknowledged by men and women alike.		The aesthetic of the ''bishōnen'' was recorded in Lady [[Murasaki Shikibu]]'s ''[[Tale of Genji]]'', written in about the year 1000 A.D. ''Genji'' concerns the exploits and romances of a young prince, the son of an emperor and beloved concubine, who is not in line to inherit the throne, and follows his intrigues through the court as he comes of age. The novel typifies the [[Heian period\|Heian]] age of Japanese history, a period of highly stylized romance. [[Hikaru Genji\|Prince Genji's]] beauty is described as transcendental, so much so that "one could have wished him a woman", with a bewitching attraction that is acknowledged by men and women alike.

	[[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]] and [[Amakusa Shirō]] have been identified as historical ''bishōnen''.<ref>Drazen, Patrick (October 2002). '"A Very Pure Thing": Gay and Pseudo-Gay Themes' in ''[[Anime Explosion! The What, Why & Wow of Japanese Animation]]'' Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press pp.91-94. ISBN 1-880656-72-8.</ref> Ian Buruma notes that Yoshitsune was considered by contemporaries to be not physically prepossessing, but that his legend later grew and due to this, he became depicted with good looks.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Buruma\|first=Ian\|authorlink=Ian Buruma\|title=A Japanese Mirror: Heroes and Villains of Japanese Culture\|publisher=Penguin Books\|location=Great Britain\|year=1985\|origyear=1984\|isbn=978-0-14-007498-7\|pages=132–135}}</ref> [[Abe no Seimei]] was depicted according to the standards of a Heian-era middle-aged man, but since 1989 he has been depicted as a modern-style bishonen.<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Miller\|first=Laura\|title=Extreme Makeover for a Heian-Era Wizard\|journal=[[Mechademia]]\|url=http://umsl.academia.edu/LauraMiller/Papers/83064/Extreme_Makeover_for_a_Heian-Era_Wizard}}</ref>		[[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]] and [[Amakusa Shirō]] have been identified as historical ''bishōnen''.<ref>Drazen, Patrick (October 2002). '"A Very Pure Thing": Gay and Pseudo-Gay Themes' in ''[[Anime Explosion! The What, Why & Wow of Japanese Animation]]'' Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press pp.91-94. ISBN 1-880656-72-8.</ref> Ian Buruma notes that Yoshitsune was considered by contemporaries to be not physically prepossessing, but that his legend later grew and due to this, he became depicted with good looks.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Buruma\|first=Ian\|authorlink=Ian Buruma\|title=A Japanese Mirror: Heroes and Villains of Japanese Culture\|publisher=Penguin Books\|location=Great Britain\|year=1985\|origyear=1984\|isbn=978-0-14-007498-7\|pages=132–135}}</ref> [[Abe no Seimei]] was depicted according to the standards of a Heian-era middle-aged man, but since 1989 he has been depicted as a modern-style bishonen.<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Miller\|first=Laura\|title=Extreme Makeover for a Heian-Era Wizard\|journal=[[Mechademia]]\|url=http://umsl.academia.edu/LauraMiller/Papers/83064/Extreme_Makeover_for_a_Heian-Era_Wizard\|archivedate= 7-2-15}}</ref>

	[[Kyokutei Bakin]] wrote many works with [[nanshoku]] undertones featuring bishonen characters,<ref>{{cite book\|last=Reichert\|first=James Robert\|title=In the Company of Men: Representations of Male-male Sexuality in Meiji Literature \|publisher=Stanford University Press\|year=2006\|pages=3–4\|isbn=978-0-8047-5214-5}}</ref> and in 1848 he used the term bishonen in the title of a work about the younger wakashu partner in the nanshoku relationship.<ref name=Orbaugh/>		[[Kyokutei Bakin]] wrote many works with [[nanshoku]] undertones featuring bishonen characters,<ref>{{cite book\|last=Reichert\|first=James Robert\|title=In the Company of Men: Representations of Male-male Sexuality in Meiji Literature \|publisher=Stanford University Press\|year=2006\|pages=3–4\|isbn=978-0-8047-5214-5}}</ref> and in 1848 he used the term bishonen in the title of a work about the younger wakashu partner in the nanshoku relationship.<ref name=Orbaugh/>