Encyclopaedia of Shibari Knots
Shibari knot
Half Knot
Names: Half knot
Category: Knot
Use: This knot forms the first half of both the reef knot and the granny knot
Shibari knot
Overhand Knot
Names: Overhand knot
Category: Knot
Use: Joining a new rope onto a rope pattern, can also be used to secure a rope to a wrap that is crossing.
Shibari knot
Somerville Bowline
Names: Somerville Bowline, Carrick bend, Marumusubi (丸結び)
Category: Single Column Knot
Use: Used in Shibari as a single column knot - this knot can not be untied when the working end is under tension.
shibari knot
Reef Knot
Names: Reef Knot, Square knot, Hercules Knot, Honmusubi (本結び)
Category: Single Column Knot
Use: Used to start ties, often for securing leg/s or arm/s. This knot can come undone however there are a number of modifications that can be added to it to make it more secure.
Shibari knot
Granny Knot
Names: Granny knot, lubber’s knot, calf knot, booby knot, tatemusubi (縦結び)
Category: Single Column Knot
Use: Used to start ties, often for securing leg/s or arm/s. This knot can come undone however there are a number of modifications that can be added to it to make it more secure.
Shibari Friction
Half Hitch
Name: Half-hitch
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: Often used to secure a one rope to another, or to change direction.
Shibari Friction
Two Half Hitches
Name: Clover hitch (Two Half-hitches)
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: Often used to finish rope patterns, or secure up lines
Shibari Friction
No-Dome
Name: No-Dome, Nodome, Crossing hitch. (sometimes misidentified as a munter hitch)
Prounouced: 'no-doe-may'
Category: Shibari Friction
Used for: This is a widely used friction in shibari, and one where mistakes are often made with people tying this friction ‘open’ instead of closed. It is one well worth studying!
Shibari Friction
Right Angle Friction
Name: Right-angle friction
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: This simple friction is used in ties like leg ladders.
Shibari Friction
Full Turn Friction
Name: Full turn Friction - also called 360 degree friction.
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: A useful but pretty week friction.
Shibari Friction
Larks Head
Name: Lark’s head
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: There is some debate over whether this is a true shibari knot or not, however a number of newer rope patterns make use of it. It is often confused with the girth hitch which is used for joining two ropes together.
Shibari Friction
Open Girths Hitch
Name: Open Grith hitch (Often mistaken for a larks head)
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: To extend (join) two ropes.
Shibari Friction
Flag or L-Friction
Name: Flag or L-Friction
Category: Shibari Friction
Used for: Often used for Chest Harnesses/Gotes.
Shibari Friction
X-Friction
Name: X-Friction/Cross Friction
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: Chest harnesses/Gotes.
Shibari Friction
Half Moon Friction
Half-moon, Half moon friction. The Japanese name Hakadome (箱留め) has sometimes been applied to this friction, but it should be noted that Hakadome also refers to a specific way of tying boxes/gifts and to fasteners used to close boxes generally.
Shibari Friction
Rams Head
Name:Rams head Friction
Category: Shibari Friction
Often used for: Chest harnesses/Gotes.
Shibari Friction
Nuki - Dome
Name: Nuki-dome
Category: Friction
Use: This knot can be used for securing a rope to a headboard, or other object when tying someone in place.
Shibari Friction
Munter Hitch
Name: Munter Hitch
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: This is used for securing suspension lines - however no-dome’s are often misnamed munter hitches (the start of the munter hitch is formed in the same way as a no-dome).
Shibari Friction
Hojo Cuff
Name: Hojo Cuff
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: Securing a Limb
Shibari Friction
Reverse Tension
Name: Reverse Tension
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: Used to reverse the direction the working end of a rope is travelling in or to start a rope tight by passing the rope through the bight.
Shibari Friction
Tear Drop
Name: Tear Drop Friction
Category: Shibari Friction
Use: Used to change the direction of the working end of a rope.
Fusion Knot
Double Coin
Name: Double Coin Knot
Category: Fusion Knot
Use: This is a knot used in fusion rope work, it is purely decorative, as any tension will compact the knot, but can be used to make very pretty harnesses.
Shibari Friction
Turn
Name: Double Coin Knot
Category: Fusion Knot
Use: Used to change direction of the working end of the rope
Fusion knot
Fusion Overhand Knot
Names: Overhand Knot
Category: Knot
Use: Decretive knot used which can be used where a rope is crossing a wrap.
Fusion Knot
Fusion No-Dome
Names: Fusion No-Dome
Category: Friction
Use: Decretive friction