Shunga art represented sexual activities and was frequently used as a means to increase sexual pleasure. The principal application of shunga would have been to examine and share artworks or literature with sex partners or close friends. The erotic Japanese paintings were also used to teach young couples about sexuality or to urge a warrior to fight. They appear to have been highly prized by ladies, as they were discovered among the marital items handed to a Japanese bride. Shunga was generally produced in the form of paintings and woodblock prints, and was either presented as a gift or enjoyed personally. Shunga was commonly displayed publicly in the house, and it was regarded as a regular and acceptable kind of art.