the light from the front to the back of the picture could change the scene from day to night, much like the dissolving views that would later become a popular type of magic lantern show. In the early 18th century perspective boxes(called megane in japanese(眼鏡) and inspired the art of Megane-e) were very appreciated in Japan, where they were referred to as Holland machines (和蘭眼鏡,Oranda megane,more accurately holland glasses). The Dutch brought the first such device to Japan in the 1640s as a gift to the shōgun, but the devices became popular only after the Chinese popularized them about 1758, after which they began to influence Japanese artists. 19th-century Chinese peep shows were known by many names including la yang p'ien (). Sometimes the showman would perform for a crowd with puppets or pictures outside the box and then charge people extra to look through the holes. In Ottoman Syria a form of peep show called sanduk al-ajayib (صندوق العجائب, "wonder box") existed, which the storyteller carried on his back. The box had six holes through which people could see scenes backlit by a central candle. Sanduk al-ajayib stories were about contemporary figures and events, or showed scenes of heaven and hell. Other common subjects in peep shows throughout the world have been exotic views and animals, scenes of classical drama or masques, court ceremonies, surprise transformations (e.g., of an angel into a devil) and of course, lewd pictures. Raree shows were precursors of toy theatres, with movable scenes and paper figurines, popular in the 19th century. They can also be seen as predecessors to optical toys like Chinese fireworks, the diorama, the stereoscope and the magic lantern. Some peep shows offer the only accurate representation of the stage design and scenery of the masques and pageants of their time. See also Stanhope (optical bijou) Early motion pictures were presented in peep boxes, such as the kinetoscope and the mutoscope. Erotica: Peep show References External links Audiovisual introductions in the 15th century Optical toys Entertainment