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Navel
Human "innie" navel
Human "outie" navel

The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, colloquially known as the belly button) is a scar^[1] on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, and it is quite conspicuous in humans.^[2] Other animals' navels tend to be smoother and flatter, often nothing more than a thin line, and are often obscured by fur as well.^[3]

Human anatomy[link]

The navel is the centre of the circle in this drawing by Leonardo

The umbilicus is a prominent mark on the abdomen, with its position being relatively consistent amongst humans. The skin around the waist at the level of the umbilicus is supplied by the tenth thoracic spinal nerve (T10 dermatome). The umbilicus itself typically lies at a vertical level corresponding to the junction between the L3 and L4 vertebrae,^[4] with a normal variation among people between the L3 and L5 vertebrae.^[5] The umbilicus forms a visible depression on the skin of the abdomen, and the underlying abdominal muscle layers also present a concavity; thinness at this point contributes to a relative structural weakness, making it susceptible to hernia.^{[citation needed]} During pregnancy, the uterus presses the navel of the pregnant woman outward, however it usually retracts after birth.

The umbilicus is used to visually separate the abdomen into quadrants. The navel is the center of the circle enclosing the spread-eagle figure in Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man drawing. Surprisingly, the navel is rarely honored in contemporary art and literature.^[6]

Aki Sinkkonen at the University of Helsinki in Finland thinks that the navel may be an indicator of mating potential in fertile women. In his article in the The FASEB Journal, he proposes that the umbilicus, together with the surrounding skin area, is an honest signal of individual vigor. He suggests that the symmetry, shape, and position of umbilicus can be used to estimate the reproductive potential of fertile females, including risks of certain genetically and maternally inherited fetal anomalies.^[7][8]

Innies and outies[link]

Alfred Hitchcock claimed to have had no navel.

In humans, the navel scar can appear as a depression (often referred to colloquially as an innie) or as a protrusion (outie). About 90 percent of humans have innies.^[3] The occurrence of an outie navel is caused by the extra skin left from the umbilical cord or from umbilical hernias, although a child with an umbilical hernia will not necessarily develop an outie. Although frequently separated into these two categories, navels actually vary quite widely among people in terms of size, shape, depth/length, and overall appearance. As navels are scars, and not defined by genetics, they can serve as a way of distinguishing between identical twins in the absence of other identifiable marks.

Loss of the navel[link]

Some do not have a navel as a result of the surgery needed to correct abdominal problems at birth like an umbilical hernia or gastroschisis, a condition where the stomach and intestines poke through a hole in the abdominal wall. Only a smooth indentation is found in the place of the navel.^[9] And while it is standard practice to clamp, cut, then seal a newborn's umbilical cord to prevent infection, in lotus births - or umbilical non-severance births - the cord and placenta are left to drop off naturally.^[10] Adults may lose their navels during stomach surgeries or skin grafts while some adults even opt to have their navels surgically enhanced via umbilicoplasty.^[11] Famous examples are Alfred Hitchcock who had so many abdominal operations over the years that his navel disappeared under all the stitches^[12][13] and Czech model Karolina Kurkova who lost her navel due to a surgery during her childhood.^[9] A belly dancer Tabila literally had her navel removed by plastic surgery.^[14]

A T-shaped navel

Dirt accumulation inside the navel

Erogenous zone[link]

The navel is considered as a sexual bodypart by some.^[15] It is one of the many erogenous zones that has heightened sensitivity.^[16] The navel and the region below when touched by the finger or the tip of the tongue result in the production of erotic sensations.^[16][17] This is because the navel and the genitals have a common tissue origin, and in some people this connection still exists so that stimulation of the navel will elicit a distinct tickle in the genitals.^[18] A study done by Charles Puckett of the University of Missouri found that vertically oriented navels with a T-shape were considered the most attractive.^{[2][19][20][21]} In the Song of Solomon, a book in the Hebrew Bible, there are allusions to exotic things in nature, with frequent interweaving of nature with erotic imagery. In Solomon's lavish praise of his love – the country girl, Sulaimi – the navel is mentioned as follows: "thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor" (7:2).^[22]

Bacteria[link]

A team of scientists have discovered there are 1,400 strains of bacteria lurking in human belly buttons.^[23] North Carolina State University's Belly Button Biodiversity study even found 662 unrecognised strains which could be unique new species.^[23][24][25]

Alternative medicine[link]

Manipura chakra that represents the navel

Indian medicine[link]

In Indian traditional medicine, Cyperus rotundus tuber is made into a paste and applied around the navel to relieve pain caused by roundworms. Pomegranate plant juice & paste is used for snake bite, the juice is dropped into nostrils, ears & the navel.^[26] Applying a little bit of ghee on cotton and keeping it on the navel overnight is considered a remedy for dry lips.^[27] Castor oil is applied on the navel of infants as a remedy for stomach aches.^[28] Gonds,a tribe from central India apply Gloriosa superba - rhizome extract over the navel and vagina to cause labour pain and perform normal delivery.^[29]

According to Ayurveda, the navel is an important site in the human body. Nearly 72,000 subtle nerves or nadis converge in this area.^[30] By the principles of Ayurveda and yoga, the human body is made up of six Chakras of which the Manipura chakra is located at the spine directly behind either the navel or the solar plexus, depending on the system, while its kshetram or superficial activation point is located directly on the navel and represents the element Fire.^{[31][32][33][34]} Vayu, which is one of the three Doshas specified in Ayurveda, is divided into five sub categories. Of these, Samana Vayu (situated in the navel region) is believed to aid in digestion and to give physical strength to the body.^[35][36]

Navel displacement[link]

By Ayurvedic principles, navel displacement is the condition when the navel center shifts. Determining whether the navel is displaced is done by the following procedure,

1. The person should lie on the back with legs straightened.
2. Another person using a string measures the distance between the navel center to the left toe of the person lying down.
3. Similarly the distance between the navel center to the right toe is measured.
4. If both distances are not equal, then the navel is said to be displaced.

This might usually create digestive disorders. Proper practice of yoga is considered to be a remedy to realigning the navel.^[37]

Sri Lankan medicine[link]

In Sri Lanka traditional medicine, a composition of herbs, powdered pepper & water is applied to the navel in the form of a paste as a remedy for stomach aches.^[38] Similarly, during difficulties in delivery, a betel leaf is placed on the woman's navel which is believed to be under a spell.^[39]

Russian medicine[link]

Laying wormwood on the female navel, spreading a paste of reindeer lichen on the navel were considered by Russian women to make the delivery fast and painless.^[40]

Navel exposure in world cultures[link]

Western culture[link]

Barbara Eden in a publicity photo of 1960's TV show I Dream of Jeannie.

Cher exposing her navel for a scene from an Egyptian soap opera skit on The Sonny and Cher Show, 1977.

Taboo and censorship[link]

Displaying the belly and bare navel has been a taboo at times in Western cultures. In some European countries, women resorted to corsets to cover their bellies.^[41] The famous Hays code banned the exposure of the navel^[42][43][44] because it simulated an "erogenic orifice". The navel was censored in women and not in men because the simulation or upward displacement from vagina to navel was commonplace and obvious in women.^[45] During the 1950s, actress Joan Collins was prohibited from displaying her bare navel for the film Land of the Pharaohs by the censors. She was made to wear a navel jewel, a ruby, to meet the censors' guidelines.^[46][47] This technique of gluing jewels on the navel to cover it and baring the midriff began to be used in many other films featuring belly dance sequences.^[48][49] Similarly, actress Kim Novak wore a ruby in her navel for the film Jeanne Eagels. She told in an interview,"I wore a ruby in my navel for Jeanne Eagels and they had to glue it in every time. I got a terrible infection from it."^[50]

Even Marilyn Monroe for a scene from Some Like It Hot wore a dress that revealed skin everywhere but had a tiny piece of fabric to hide her navel.^[51] During the 1960s, actress Barbara Eden was not allowed to show her navel on the US TV show I Dream of Jeannie by the Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters.^[52][53] When actress Annette Funicello was cast in her first beach movie, Walt Disney requested that she only wear modest bathing suits and keep her navel covered.^[54] Similarly actress Mariette Hartley was not allowed to show her belly button in Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek (1966) due to the censors. But later Gene got even when he had Mariette expose not one but two belly buttons in the sci-fi film Genesis II (1973).^{[55][56][57][58][59][60]}

But eventually the censors changed, leading to the acceptance of navel exposure. By which, Marilyn Monroe was allowed to expose her navel for a scene from Something's Got to Give. She was surprised to reveal her navel for the first time. She commented,"I guess the censors are willing to recognize that everybody has a navel."^[61] During 1970s, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour of CBS featured TV personality Cher exposing her navel which was considered a first in television history.^[62] But the network censors feared her navel exposure would become a cause célèbre at CBS.^[63] Cher once commented, "There were so many things that were censored - ideas and words. All I know is I got in trouble for showing my belly button, and every time I turned around after I went off the air, all you saw were Cheryl Ladd's boobs."^[64] People Magazine regarded Cher as the "Pioneer of the Belly Beautiful".^[65]

Fashion[link]

A woman wearing a cropped top and low-rise pants which exposes the midriff and navel

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in their trademark outfits that expose the navel.

A middleaged woman with a navel piercing.

However, Fashion exploits the navel through low-rise clothing that leaves the midriff or lower abdomen bare. These navel displays commenced with the introduction of the bikini in 1946 by Louis Réard.^[66] Réard could not find a model who would dare to wear his design. He ended up hiring Micheline Bernardini, a 19 year old nude dancer from the Casino de Paris as his model.^[67][68] During the 1960s, Mary Quant's designs emphasized maximum exposure of the navel and bare midriffs.^[69]

This fashion later became increasingly popular through sporting styles comprising modified sports bras without additional outer garments, sports bikinis, and cheerleading style fashions developing largely from the styles originating with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in the early 1970s.^[70] The navel fashion returned in 1980s when a ban on exposing the navel in public was lifted.^[71] Actress Cher sported an Indian princess outfit with feathers and beads around her navel for the Academy Awards ceremony that year. California designer Christine Albers commented, "the look is good for anyone who has a great body but especially for women who do a lot of stomach exercises".^[72] The modern trend of exposing the navel has usually been confined to women, apart from a 1980s fashion male belly-button shirt fad, although males have long exposed their navels when going shirtless, such as when swimming.

This low-rise fashion started in the early 1990s when the British magazine The Face in its March 1993 issue cover featured Kate Moss in low-rise jeans.^[73] Models like Gisele have always flashed their midriffs.^[74] The display of the navel in women's fashion has partly grown out of the sportswear and swimwear styles that became popular during the twentieth century, themselves linked to successes of the feminist movement and developments in clothing technology. In 1994, Art cooper,editor-in-chief of GQ magazine said that his big seller in 94' was February issue with Geena Davis on the cover where she wore an Armani suit opened at the hips to reveal her navel.^[75] It helped move around 400,000 copies.He points out the reason as quoted,"Part of the success is the navel factor. I think the belly button is really an erogeneous zone."^[76] The importance of the navel is very much emphasized that for Czech model Karolina Kurkova who does not have a navel, the magazine and catalogue art directors routinely airbrush one in for her during post-production. They keep a collection of belly button shots in different positions, and Photoshop them on to her whenever she’s doing a bikini picture.^[77] Similarly, Kelly Ripa also appeared in magazine covers of Shape with morphed navels.^[78]

Due to the current wide acceptance of navel display in Western societies, navel piercing^[79] and navel tattoos^[80] have become more common among young women. The trend of piercing or tattooing the navel became popular in the 1990s.^[81] This trend is popular among middleaged women like housewives too who bare their navels sporting navel piercings or tattoos.^[82][83] Actress Drew Barrymore has a butterfly tattoo beneath her navel.^[84] The growing popularity of belly dancing, where navel exposure is a necessity, has also added to the navel exposure trend. Among belly dancing instructors, the innie navel is preferred over the outie.^[85] During the late 1980s, Disney's heroines moved to a sexier trend. In the 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid, the animated lead protagonist, Ariel, flashed her navel while wearing only fins & seashells. This is considered to be a first in Disney's history.^[86]

On the contrary, advice columnist Ann Landers once commented, "Navels are neither sexy nor obscene. I do not believe any female of good taste would wear an outfit where her navel shows. This does not include women in costumes or those on beaches in bikinis. The same goes for males. An adult male who wears hip-huggers so low rates zero minus 10 on the scale of taste - it's my opinion but it's one I feel strongly about".^[87] Similarly, fashion historian James Laver told that he hasn't quite caught up with the idea of exposing the navel. He once commented, "I have never regarded that as a particularly attractive part of the human anatomy".^[88][89] After 2010, the crop top fashion had a changeover by which women started wearing it with a high-rise skirts, jeans or shorts that are high enough to cover the belly button. This helps in avoiding the muffin tops.^[90][91][92]

Christina Aguilera in navel-exposing attire.

20th century music[link]

Besides fashion, 20th century music culture is another reason for popularity of navel exposure. Many famous pop stars such as Madonna,^[93] Britney Spears,^[94] Jennifer Lopez^[74] Christina Aguilera^[95] etc., have flaunted their navels during their performances. People magazine wrote that Madonna made the bare navel her trademark.^[65] During the early 1990s, Canadian country singer Shania Twain appeared in low jeans baring her midriff and navel in her music videos and performances.^[96][97][98] It became the most widely discussed body part in country music, which became her own unique trademark.^[99][100] Jennifer Lopez is believed to have started the trend of exposing the navel on stage and red carpets.^[101] In 2001, the editors of Britannica commissioned an article on Britney Spears that deconstructs her bare midriff. The article describes Miss Spears's navel as "a heated boundary between baby and babe".^[102] In the same year, singer Anastacia's navel was kissed by Elton John onstage in front of thousands of music fans. She later commented, "We'd just finished the song and he walked over to me. Instead of kissing my hand, he dropped to his knees and kissed my navel. It was such an awesome moment that I didn't know how to react. I stood there thinking, 'Should I kiss his navel now?'".^[103] Spin magazine chose Madonna's navel as its "most incredible" rock star body part for a September 2005 feature.^{[104][105][106]} Gregorio Luke, former director of Museum of Latin American Art who conducted lectures about belly buttons told, "The belly button has been a sign of beauty in goddesses as different as Astarte, Venus or Aphrodite. We ask which is more beautiful, the perfectly round belly button of Jane Fonda or Raquel Welch’s grain of coffee navel? Every star from Madonna to Shakira proudly displays their belly button."^[107][108]

On the contrary, American columnist Kathleen Parker in an article about Katharine Hepburn once commented, "Young movie-going girls today don't have access to many in the mold of Katherine Hepburn. Instead by mall observations most are Britney wannabes — hip-hugged, tattooed, pierced and out there. The female navel has become the refrigerator man's continental divide. I hate to break it to you, oh future daughters-in-law, but everybody's got a belly button. Your inney- or outey-ness is not the stuff either of revelation or revolution."^{[109][110][111][112][113]}

Indian culture[link]

Ancient times[link]

An 1820 painting by Frederic Shoberl of Indian women in navel exposing saris.

Didarganj Yakshi, a sculpture of a woman in navel-exposing attire.

While the West was relatively resistant to midriff-baring clothing until the 1980s, it has long been a fashion with Indian women.^[114] These women, especially those from Southern India, have traditionally worn saris that bare the midriff.^[115][116] Women from Rajasthan leave the midriff exposed while wearing Ghagra Cholis.^[117] However, these women often cover their heads with a Dupatta,^[118] and may even cover their faces in front of strangers with a Ghoonghat. This lends credence to the belief that navel-baring in India has a symbolic, almost mystical, association with birth and life, and that the display is meant to emphasize the centrality of nature in the nurture role.^[119] One of the reasons can be that in ancient Indian tradition, the navel of the God Vishnu the Protector is considered to be the center of the universe and the source of life.^[120] From his navel a new world of the future emerges. This has been depicted in many ancient Indian sculptures as a lotus emerging from the navel on which God Brahma the Creator is seated.^[121][122] Due to this the midriff & navel is set to be left bare in a sari.

In ancient India, although women wore saris that bared the midriff, the Dharmasastra writers stated that women should be dressed such that the navel would never become visible.^[123][124] By which for sometime the navel exposure became a taboo and the navel was concealed.^[125] The trend of exposing the navel was started by women who were dancers, acrobats, or entertainers, and who developed a technique of wearing the sari like a pair of trousers well below the navel to assist in the free movement of the legs.^[126] This trend slowly spread to become common among unmarried young women. Women in this type of attire are very common in many ancient Indian sculptures,^[127][128] and paintings.^[129] Indian sculpture emphasised the centrality and sexuality which emanated from the depiction of the woman's navel. One of the most stunning examples would be Didarganj Yakshi, a statue of a woman made during the Mauryan period. Carved out of sandstone which gives it a natural shine where the navel is deeply embedded within the centre of the torso, drawing the focus of the viewer.^[130] Before sculpting, the sculptors actually created an image and indicated the six structural centers as defined by Yoga principles, of which navel is also one.^[131] Technically, a typical women representation in ancient Indian art include an hourglass figure with large waist, breasts, buttocks and a deep navel.^[132] By the Indian Physiognomy of a women's body, if the navel of a woman is deep, then she is popular and is loved by her husband. Broad, fleshy and not very deep navel indicates that such a woman is quite lucky. A woman with deep navel with a whirl to the right side is considered auspicious and is expected to lead a queen like comfortable life.^[133][134] Famous Indian painter M. F. Husain once commented, "The belly button has always been in. It has been an intrinsic part of the Indian woman. It has been part of Indian sculptures that go back so many centuries. That is why so many years ago, even in the 50s, all my works had women show their belly buttons."^{[135][136][137]}

Recent times[link]

Indian TV actress Narayani Shastri in navel-exposing sari.

Low-rise saris[link]

With their migration to different countries, many Indian women began to wear the normal sari below the waistline exposing the navel, which is known as a low-rise sari or low hip sari.^{[138][139][140]} Thus, the space between the bottom of the sari blouse and the top of the petticoat began to expand to expose the navel or a healthy roll of fat instead of only a couple of inches of skin.^[141] It is considered to have started during the 1950s, when saris were worn below the navel, with big pleats that were tightly draped across the curves of the body making the sari look seductive.^[142] Also, due to liberalization and changing global markets, saris are re-emerging as an erotic wrap, which can expose as much as it conceals.^{[143][144][145]} As a result, saris began to be designed in many innovative ways and using different materials. Transparent and semi-transparent saris made of sheer fabrics like chiffon are one such example.^{[146][147][148]} Gradually navel exposure gained a permanent role in modern Indian fashion. According to Fashion designer Swapnil Shinde,the Indian fashion scene is just about exploring the show-off navel for the ramp. According to model Candice Pinto, the navel is the sexiest part of the human body but showing off the navel should be a matter of personal choice.^[149] These modern saris may be draped in different ways,^[150] such as a petticoat being tied about 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) below the navel, just above the pubic area, and a small blouse ending just below the breasts with a thin pallu exposing some part of the blouse and almost the entire midriff.^[151] This style was popularised by Bollywood celebrities and other popular regional film industries, such as Tamil cinema and Telugu cinema.^[152]

Actress Priyanka Chopra in a transparent sari revealing her navel piercing

Accessories[link]

Some even wear navel jewels or navel piercings to emphasize and make the navel attractive.^[153][154] Vaibhavi Patel,a Navratri enthusiast commented,"For those who wear short cholis with low waist ghagras, body-piercing specially navel piercing is very 'in'".^[155] In 2009, actress Priyanka Chopra appeared in a "Mumtaz Sari" and showed off her navel jewellery when she attended the premiere of her film What's Your Raashee at the Toronto International Film Festival.^{[156][157][158]} Very recently in August 2011, South Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu made a flutter at the audio launch of Telugu film Dookudu exposing her midriff with a navel piercing in a sari.^[159]

Some Indian women even use bindis to decorate the navel.^[160][161] Jasmine Chanchani, who has been specialising in this form of bindi art, commented, "If you are daring enough and have a body to show off, a bindi tattoo near the navel can be a very hot style statement. Wear a simple, short top with your skirt or denim, make the belly button bindi design the focal point and watch 'em gape."^[162] Even tattoos near or below the navel are also becoming popular in cities like Pune.^[163]

Etiquette[link]

These fashion styles and accessories are mainly worn by rich, educated, upper class women who regard navel exposure as a fashion.^{[164][165][166]} Sometimes the low-rise style is modified, with the navel being covered by the pallu when wearing a low-rise non-transparent sari. This style can be helpful for tall women for whom tying the sari above the navel might not be possible.The pallu helps in covering the navel.In some corporations in India, saris are required to be worn in an elegant manner avoiding navel exposure.^[167] Anita Gupta, Senior Vice-President at JWT Chennai commented, "Formal wear for women definitely covers saris without plunging necklines or glimpses of the belly button."^[168]

Indian cinema[link]

Female dancers of Bollywood have always exposed their navels^[169][170] and cameras have always focused on their navels.^[171] For example, in the 1968 Bollywood film Brahmachari, actress Mumtaz was seen in a Sharara sari flaunting her navel^{[149][172][173]} for a song and dance number "Aaj kal tere mere."^[174] Sharara is a long flowing pant like a divided skirt at bottom with a long blouse. The unique feature of the Sharara is the skirt which has less flow than lehenga. It is like a loose pant fitted till the knee, with a big flare from the knee onwards. It later became so popular that till date this type of saris is known to be Mumtaz Saris.^[175][176] The film Khalnayak(1993) was famous for the song Choli ke Peeche featuring Madhuri Dixit in navel-exposing attire.^[177] Actress Aishwarya Rai showcased her navel in a brocade choli and dipped ghagra for the hit song "Kajra Re" in the film Bunty aur Babli (2005).^{[178][179][180][181]} Actress Deepika Padukone had once commented, "in showing off cleavage, chances are you might end up looking indecent. But that isn't the case with the navel. It's sexy in a very natural way."^[149] Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta for a question on her opinion about exposing navels had said, "No problem, even a sari reveals the belly button."^[182] Maria Rose, a poet from Kerala in his poem "Obsessed with navels" wrote, "Don't blame or tease us; We sex starved lot; Let us free our repressions; By peeping at the navels and cleavages; And by making love with the air; In cinematic dances.".^[183]

On the contrary, the Censor Board of India for Indian cinema brought some limitations with respect to portrayal of vulgarity which included restrictions on visuals like zoom shots of the navel, vulgar kissing of the navel and the erotic squeezing of the navel and waist. It had been implemented during the 1990s.^{[184][185][186]} Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty once commented, "If navel-showing is obscenity, then our traditional Indian outfit — the traditional sari — should be banned in the first place."^[187] Actor R. Madhavan once commented,"I have often been embarrassed to see certain films I have done.Now, wearing an outlandish dress, when I see myself kissing a dancing heroine's navel in some films, I feel ashamed. Such scenes don't titillate any one."^[188] Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee commented,"I am not very comfortable though I have tried wearing a lehenga choli with a stick-on in my navel. But I am not very comfortable."^[182]

Japanese culture[link]

Dogū figurine of the late Jōmon period with the navel indicated with a deep indentation.

Early times[link]

Japan has long had a special regard for the navel. During early Jomon period in northern Japan, three small balls indicating the breasts and navel were pasted onto flay clay objects intending to be abbreviations for the female body. The navel was exaggerated in size which was given significance by the thought that navel acts as a "symbol of center where life begins". On many middle Jomon figurines too, the significance of the navel was emphasized with an indentation or hole. Sometimes,the importance of the navel was further enchanced by connecting with a line from the navel towards the chest.^[189] Japanese poems of the earlier times featured many references to the female navel. In some,the word navel actually refers to an indentation or hole instead of the belly button.^[190][191] The shape of the umbilicus of a newborn baby would be discussed at length. If a baby's navel is to point downward, the parents would brace themselves for a weakling child who would bring them woe. The thunder god Raijin, with his terrifying drums, his great horns and long tusks, was said to have an insatiable appetite for young navels, and mothers had constantly to nag their youngsters to keep themselves well covered up.^[192] Therefore due to the mythology, navel exposure was not encouraged in the earlier times. The traditional clothing of Japanese women has a wide cloth belt around the midriff to protect the belly and keep it warm. The Japanese believe that the belly to be a source of person's warmth and a perfect navel is an innie.^[193]

Japanese model in navel-exposing attire.

Transitional period[link]

Japanese spiritualist Hogen Fukunaga once wrote, "The navel is the core of everything about the person." So, it logically follows that the unlucky person who ends up with an abnormal version of this most central of body parts is doomed to a life of dubious distinction."^[194] By 1951, at the age of 55, retired secretary named Koji Murata had built up a whole philosophy around the navel's influence on health. He started the Hesoten (literally, Navel Heaven) Society, to proclaim that the heaven-pointed navel received blessings therefrom. He claimed that the navel is a medal of culture with which every person is born. One should value it. As the years passed, people began taking Murata's advice by exercising their navels twice a day. His crusade did fetch some results. Many people including executives who found themselves less tense while employees felt more eager to work. Today 160 firms and organizations are members of the Navel Heaven movement. The importance for the navel in Japan has eventually increased. One of Japan's top beauticians, Mrs. Aiko Yamano introduced the idea of mixing up perfumed olive oil with a bit of lanolin and persuaded women to pour a few drops into their navels before retiring. The oil was naved "BB" for Brigitte Bardot. Many women over 30 who tried it, developed clear, smooth skins. Within four days the first 10,000 bottles were sold out.^[192]

Japanese women performing a traditional Japanese dance Yosakoi in navel-exposing attire in the Yosakoi Matsuri 2006 at Kōchi.

Belly button festival[link]

Although navel exposure has become a recent trend in fashion in Japan, annual belly button festivals (Heso Matsuri)^[195] have been held in Japan since the late 1960s. The tradition of the Hokkaido Belly Button Dance (Heso Odori) began in 1968.^[196] It was decided that a town festival was needed, in order to unify and energize Furano's people, who were spread over a large area. Inspired by Furano's location in the very middle of Hokkaido, the festival organizers came up with the idea of a dance featuring the belly button. The dance initially was not popular. In the first official Heso Matsuri, only 11 people joined the dance. However, Heso Matsuri has become one of the most famous summer festivals in Hokkaido over the years, drawing people from around Japan and the world. Dancers make their heso (belly button) into a face, using paint, special costumes, and props. Many variations of the dance have been developed, leading to competitions among dancers, who compete for prizes in various categories.^{[197][198][199][200]}

A similar type festival is held at Shibukawa, north of Tokyo. The idea was formed based on the location of Shibukawa, which is also referred to as the "Belly button of Japan." The festival is based on a traditional Japanese form of entertainment where revelers paint a face on their torsos and stomachs to appear as a head. A kimono is wrapped around the waist and the person's real head is hidden by a large cloth hat. The belly button is traditionally painted into a mouth. In recent years, modern motifs and Japanese anime designs have appeared in the festival.^{[201][202][203]}

Indonesian culture[link]

Yudhoyono's speech[link]

In 2004, the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had spoken out against exposed navels, urging women in the world's largest Muslim-populated country to cover up. He said, "Indonesian women, who are known for their courtesy, should refrain from exposing their midriffs or belly buttons, which now seems to be taken for granted. There are many ways to express beauty, as part of aesthetics, and to express freedom but not by showing things that lead to pornography." He further added that state could not dictate how people should dress, but citizens were expected to respect the country's moral values and courtesy. A week later, a cabinet minister quoted Mr. Yudhoyono as saying that he felt "disturbed and uneasy" to see television shows in which women exposed their navels.^[204][205]

Indonesian pop singer Agnes Monica in navel-exposing attire.

Anti-pornography law[link]

In 2006, Agus Suwage, an Indonesian artist, installed his Pinkswing Park exhibit at Jakarta's international biennale and was surrounded by massive panels with multiple pictures of a near-naked man and woman frolicking in a utopian park – a world away from thoughts of religious furore, public condemnation and possible imprisonment. Within days of November's exhibition launch, Islamic fundamentalists had shoved Suwage to the forefront of their struggle to redefine Indonesia by descending on the biennale, forcing its closure and demanding prosecutions. At first police claimed his work blasphemed the story of Adam and Eve, then few weeks later they told Suwage he faced five years in jail for producing pornography. By which, the Indonesian parliament decided to introduce a sweeping anti-pornography law. The law imposes a rigid social template; couples who kiss in public will face up to five years' jail, as would anyone flaunting a "sensual body part" – including their navel – and tight clothing will be outlawed.^{[206][207][208][209]} Due to this new anti-pornography law, topless bathing and surfing on the beaches of Bali which are a common practice by tourists will also be prohibited. Not only tourists but many older tribal women still walk topless who would also be affected by the law.^{[208][210][211]} Eventually, the introduction of a bill had been attacked by women's rights campaigners in the country, who fear it is the first step towards the implementation of Islamic Sharia law.^[212][213]

Pop music[link]

Despite these laws, pop singers like Inul Daratista who is known for her hip swaying moves^{[208][214][215]} and Agnes Monica who features in sexy attire, still continue exposing their navels but undergo some restrictions during advertising.^[216]

Sri Lankan culture[link]

7th Century Sigiriya frescoes depicting women in navel-exposed attire

Ancient times[link]

Sinhalese women performing a traditional Sri Lankan dance in navel-exposing attire.

The royal ladies in the Sigiriya frescoes depict women wearing the cloth gracefully draped as a dhoti, tied in a knot at the front and pulled down exposing the navel. They wear pleated robes from the waist upwards, save for necklace, armlets, wristlets, ear and hair ornaments and displayed their breasts. The ladies in waiting wear waist clothes, a few ornaments and a firm "breast bandage" or thanapatiya.^[217]

In the Sinhalese poetic work Kaviyasekara, a father advises his married daughter as to proper clothing,

Sinhalese: "Pekaniya nodakva Salu e(n)da bolata dakva Nopava tana sakva Sina nomawan dasan dakva." (Sinhala: පෙකිනි නොදක්වා සළු ඇඳ බොලට දක්වා නොපව තන සක්වා සිනා නොමවන් දසන් දක්වා)

English: "Dress your garment above your navel, without exposing the fair bosom, and expose not your teeth in laughing."^[218]

The buddhist leader Anagarika Dharmapala in his work Daily Code for the Laity in 1898 wrote that a sari blouse must be long covering fully the women's breasts, midriff, navel and back.^[219]

Recent times[link]

Sri Lankans were not navel-savvy during the past decade and a half. In the 1980s and 1990s, a navel revealer was considered very rare. However by the late 1990s, the Bollywood connection and the massive media and IT explosion that occurred in India in its post-Doordarshan late 1990s has had a hegemonic influence in Sri Lanka’s own fashion outlook. By which, the navel has become one of the sauciest items in the modern Sri Lankan wardrobe.^[220]

Antiquity in the Sri Lankan films are depicted by making the women of that primitive age half naked and navel flashing similar to the Sigiriya frescoes. In school cultural shows, among Sunday-school goers, dances of the Channa-Upuli tradition as well as the conventional Udarata-Pahatharata forms, the attention is often grabbed by the navel shower.^[220]

Others[link]

Malaysia[link]

Malay models in attire that covers the navel at a Fashion show in Kuala Lumpur in April 2011.

In 2005, Vivienne, a virtual girlfriend created by software maker Artificial Life Inc. of Hong Kong was reprogrammed not to bare her navel or display body piercings in conservative Muslim countries like Malaysia to avoid problems.^[221] In 2006, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat gave his blessings to an Islamic form of dance clubs to serve as entertainment outlets at Kota Bharu. He commented that however there must be proper attire for women such as clothes that do not reveal the navel. He added that he was not opposed to dancing but that couples should not do it and most importantly, that the women's navel was covered. He further added that Muslim women must be covered from head to toe except for their face and hands while Muslim men must be decently dressed when in public.^[222] Under Malaysian government rules for stage performances, a female artist must be covered from her shoulders to her knees. By which in 2007, pop icon Beyonce Knowles was not allowed to perform in navel-exposing attire. Razlan Ahmad Razali, chairman of Pineapple Concerts, which organized Beyonce's concert commented, "We've informed Beyoncé's management about this issue of clothes, but it takes some of the fun out of it. Beyoncé won't be able to do the kind of show here that she does elsewhere. She's a fashion icon, and we know that she often wears miniskirts and clothes that expose her navel during her performances. It's a pity to restrict her, because her costumes are all tasteful and glamorous."^{[223][224][225][226][227]} Following which Beyonce scrapped the show amidst opposition from local groups while she called the cancellation a result of a "scheduling conflict".^[228]

Australia[link]

In 2008, Actress Demi Moore commented to the media that her secret to looking sexy even at the age of 45 is medical leeches. She said that she went to Australia for a cleansing. She explained that the leeches were placed in her belly button, and she said, "They have a little enzyme that when they are biting down in you, it gets released in your blood... and your health is optimized."^{[229][230][231][232]} In 2009, Australian politician Pauline Hanson had offered to bare her belly button to prove that she is not the subject of lewd photographs of a young woman. Previously, she had forcefully denied that raunchy photos splashed across News Ltd papers were of her. Asked if she would bare her belly button to prove that the claims were false, Ms Hanson said: "I will if I have to, but if you have a clear look at the photos, they are not me."^{[233][234][235]}

Korea[link]

In 2010, South Korean girl group Rainbow's belly button dance has been banned. While promoting their new title song "A", Rainbow pulled up their shirts as though about to take them off and showed their belly buttons. Following this, Rainbow's Agency officials commented, "Recently the choreography has been banned from broadcasts and we cannot see them anymore. We are planning to change the choreography which has problems". The show which banned Rainbow's choreography has issued guidelines about girl groups' clothes and about expressions. The SBS TV show Inkigayo had told girl groups to restrain showing their skin too much and about their outfits.^[236][237]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Human navel

• Abdominal hair
• Granuloma
• Navel fetishism
• Navel lint
• Omphalophobia
• Omphalomancy
• Omphalos
• Omphaloskepsis
• Umbilical hernia
• Umbilicoplasty

References[link]