While the geisha tradition continues in Japan, the remarkable Chinese courtesan culture has passed into history. Despite the claims of Mao Zedong to have eliminated prostitution, only the culture was eliminated. Today in China what are left are jinu, prostitutes who sell only their bodies, perhaps not even a smile.
The culture of the Geisha originated in Japan, where they are seen as symbols of culture and grace, full of puzzling mystery. They are entertainers who can be employed as hostesses for parties and other events, whether formal or informal.
geisha, a member of a professional class of women in Japan whose traditional occupation is to entertain men, in modern times, particularly at businessmen's parties in restaurants or teahouses.
A traditional female hostess, entertainer and performing artist. The word geisha consists of two kanji: gei (芸, meaning 'art') and sha (者, meaning 'person' or 'doer').
The origins and rise of geisha in Pre-Modern Japan
The original role of geisha was as an assistant to the oiran, high-class and every expensive Japanese courtesans who resided in the pleasure quarters of Edo (modern day Tokyo), Kyoto, and other major cities in the Edo Period (1603-1886).
The gisaeng—often referred to as kisaeng—were highly-trained artist women in ancient Korea who entertained men with music, conversation, and poetry in much the same way as Japanese geisha. Highly skilled gisaeng served in the royal court, while others worked in the homes of the "yangban"—or scholar-officials.
Mineko Iwasaki (岩崎 峰子/岩崎 究香, Iwasaki Mineko, born Masako Tanaka (田中 政子), 2 November 1949) is a Japanese businesswoman, author and former geisha. Iwasaki was the most famous geisha in Japan until her sudden retirement at the age of 29.
In ancient times, there was no electricity in Japan, and most facilities were only lit by candlelight. Since candlelight was not bright enough, Geishas painted their faces white to enhance their skin tones and to contour their faces, making their faces more visible and recognizable.
Taikomochi or Houkan, the Male Counterpart to the Geisha (Original source of this entry)
There are two types of geishas: a maiko (geisha-in-training) and a geiko (official geisha). Becoming a geisha takes at least six years of training, during which they learn various skills and complete several stages that introduce them to geisha life.
Today there are only about 1,000 geisha in Japan. They can be found in several major cities including Tokyo, and Kanazawa but most of them work in Kyoto. They are often attending gatherings at tea houses and ryoutei —a kind of luxurious Japanese restaurant.
Nowadays, there are just 1,000 geisha left in Japan, most of whom live and work predominantly in Tokyo and Kyoto. These modern geisha tend to remain within their district, where they're treated with the utmost respect by Japanese locals, and not approached for photos or conversation.
Many of them were forced to work in factories to make munitions, vehicles, pharmaceuticals and electrical goods for the army. These women were called the “Comfort Women”. Moreover, they were treated as sexual slaves to the American military.
Now Sayuki, she is the only white woman to ever become a full-fledged geisha in Japan. Sayuki says it took her three years to perfect the art of geisha.
No, it is not based on a true story. However, a real geisha, named Mineko Iwasaki, sued the author of the book because of defamation. Surprisingly, not the plot, but some characters in the book resembled some of the real characters in Mineko Iwasaki's life that she shared with the author in a private conversation.
At its worst, the geisha tradition involves force, fraud, and deception, and the horrifying practice of selling one's own children into slavery for purposes of sexual exploitation.
The history of the geisha and courtesans
In contrast, the highest-ranking of them, who were the true courtesans, were the Oiran (花魁) and the Tayū (太夫). Oiran, which means “First Flower,” were found throughout the country and were at the top of the hanamachi pecking order.
Geisha cannot get married. The rule of this profession is “being married to the art, not a man”. If they want to get married, they have to quit the job. Once they quit, it's usually impossible to come back, however they can debut from the beginning in a different city, under a different name and rules.
It was a tradition practiced mainly by married women and some men, almost always members of the aristocracy and samurai. In addition to Japanese society's preference for black teeth, it was also considered beneficial to health, as it prevented tooth decay by acting as a dental sealant.
There is no point harassing the geisha, obstructing their daily routine, jamming cameras in their faces. It's rude, can get you in trouble, ruins every foreigner's reputation and it's a questionable style of photography. Instead, be mindful when taking photos and go beyond obvious portraiture.
For this reason, a Geisha sleeps with her neck on a small wooden support or takamakura. This can cause crippling pain and sleep deprivation, and keeping the head balanced on the stand is a difficult skill to master.
Sayuri's eyes symbolically relate to the old saying that “eyes are the windows to the soul.” Sayuri's translucent blue-grey eyes lead many characters to believe that she has a lot of water in her personality.
Actually seeing a geisha in Japan is rare, but it's not impossible. And if you are going to see one, Kyoto is your best bet. Here's our advice for how and where to see geisha (or geiko, rather) and maiko in Kyoto.
Tsutakiyokomatsu Asaji, 102, believed to be Japan's oldest geisha. Born Haru Kato, Asaji spent nearly 90 years as a geisha, a word literally meaning “arts person.” She had continued performing the refined songs and dances of geisha tradition until April, when illness forced her to retire.