Tengu shibari

Tengu Shibari is a Japanese rope bondage tie named after the tengu, a supernatural being from Japanese folklore.

The name refers to the distinctive, wing-like shape created by the bound arms. With the wrists secured to their respective upper arms and the arms drawn backward, the resulting silhouette recalls traditional depictions of winged tengu.

Japanese: 天狗縛り

Tengu (天狗) refers to a supernatural being, or yōkai, from Japanese folklore. Tengu have been depicted in different forms, ranging from bird-like creatures to human figures with red faces and unusually long noses.

Shibari (縛り) means binding or tying.

The connection to the tengu is visual: the position of the bound arms suggests the creature’s wings.

In the variation shown here, each wrist is bound to its corresponding upper arm. The arms are then drawn slightly backward and secured to an upper-body tie.

This creates the characteristic wing-like silhouette that gives Tengu Shibari its name.

As with other arm restraints, the position and tension must be adapted to the individual. Particular care is needed to avoid excessive strain on the shoulders and pressure on vulnerable areas of the arms.

Examples of Tengu Shibari and its distinctive arm positioning, alongside traditional imagery of the mythological tengu from which the tie takes its name.