(, ), or , designates a humorous theme in a Japanese art scrolls (often also the titles of the scrolls themselves), created during the Edo period (1603âÂÂ1868) and earlier by various artists, often preferring to remain anonymous, depicting flatulence humor.
He-gassen, as a subject occasionally depicted in Japanese art, is first attested at the end of the Heian Period (794âÂÂ1185). Toba Sà Âjà  (1053âÂÂ1140), in addition to his famous Scrolls of Frolicking Animals, is also mentioned as having painted scrolls on themes such as "Phallic Contest" and "He-gassen".
One scroll in the possession of the Waseda University Library has been digitized. The Waseda University scroll ends on the far left with a colophon, stating that this is an 1846 work by a 69-year-old Fukuyama painter called Airan , being a copy of a 1680 original painted by Hishikawa Moronobu. The artist is possibly Murakata Airan (1778 â c.1846).
The scroll begins at the far right, with a scene of men of various ranks (the lacquered black caps indicate court ranks, the others are commoners) spreading news of a fart contest, scenes of men passing along the news and carrying baskets of taro, and a cooking scene where the food is being prepared and eaten.