Shibari? Kinbaku? Rope Bondage? Which is it?

Shibari? Kinbaku? Rope Bondage? Which is it?

by aropedeevil

Disclaimer

I am not an expert in Japan, Rope, or any such. I am just a lady who loves the feel of rope in her hands, and when given free reign is passionate about applying rope to a bondage scene with a partner she connects with.
I love rope. Part of what fascinates me is the many, MANY different ways to use rope as bondage, from purely "cowboy", to "people macrame" to a Japanese orientated style. Those different styles and methods come with their own well debated and much debated explanations and definitions. My definitions are NOT the one TWUE way to define these, but reflect my own perspective.

My take on the various styles:

Rope Bondage: Using rope to restrain someone.
Functional Bondage: This works for the purpose it was intended, is not typically designed to look pretty.
Japanese Bondage A bondage style that originated in Japan and has been adapted by riggers in other countries into what many now label as Shibari.
Shibari: A style of rope bondage that looks pretty, is functional and originates from Japanese style rope bondage.
Kinbaku: Shibari with an emotional connection between the parties, creating an energy within the rope bondage scene.
Ichinawa: Kinbaku done with one rope, with the focus being on using the rope to connect, rather than on completing a specific tie.
People Macrame: Rope ties that use decorative knots and twists to create attractive harnesses, rope clothing, rope accessories that can be worn as decoration.
Cowboy Bondage: functional rope ties used for restraint that are not designed to be attractive and are fast and quick.
Predicament Bondage Ties in which the function is to create a predicament.
Suspension Bondage This is any tie in which a person is partially or fully suspended with rope. This can be done in various styles.
This is not an inclusive list. There are many more styles out there, many more labels. Please do feel free to add yours in the comments.