With paper-white skin, demur red-painted lips, glorious silk kimonos and elaborate jet-black hair, Japan's geisha are one of the most iconic images associated with the "Land of the Rising Sun." As a source of companionship and entertainment as early as 600, these geisha were trained in many arts, including poetry and performance.
However, it wasn't until 1750 thatimages of the modern geishafirst appeared in historical documents, but from then, the geisha have epitomized the essence of beautyin Japanese artisan culture, passing down their traditions to this day.
Now, modern geisha share the traditions of their short-lived heyday with artists, tourists and businesspeople alike, perpetuating the best parts of their brief prominence in Japanese mainstream culture.
Saburuko: The First Geisha
The first geisha-like performers in recorded Japanese history were the saburuko— or "those who serve" — who waited tables, made conversation and sometimes sold sexual favors sometime during the 600s. The higher-class saburuko danced and entertained at elite social events while ordinary saburuko were mostly the daughters of families left destitute in the social and political upheavals of the seventh century, the period of the Taika Reform.
In 794, the Emperor Kammu moved his capital from Nara to Heian — near present-day Kyoto. Yamato Japanese culture flourished during the Heian period, which witnessed the establishment of a particular standard of beauty, as well as the origins of the samurai warrior class.
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Shirabyoshi dancers and other talented female artists were in high demand throughout the Heian era, which lasted until 1185, and although they faded from mainstream appeal over the next 400 years, these dancers continued to pass their traditions on through the ages.
Medieval Precursors to the Geisha
By the 16th century— following the end of the Sengoku period of chaos — major Japanese cities developed walled "pleasure quarters" where courtesans called yujo lived and worked as licensed prostitutes. The Tokugawa government classified them according to their beauty and accomplishments with the oiran —who were early kabuki theater actresses as well as sex-trade workers — atop the yujo hierarchy.
Samurai warriors were not permitted to partake in kabuki theater performances or the services of yujo by law; it was a violation of the class structure for members of the highest class (warriors) to mix with social outcasts such as actors and prostitutes. However, the idle samurai of unremittingly peaceful Tokugawa Japan found ways around these restrictions and became some of the best customers in the pleasure quarters.
With a higher class of customers, a higher style of female entertainer also developed in the pleasure quarters. Highly skilled in dancing, singing and playing musical instruments such as the flute and shamisen, thegeisha that began performing did not rely on selling sexual favors for their income but were trained in the art of conversation and flirting. Among the most prized were geisha with a talent forcalligraphy or those who could improvise beautiful poetry with hidden layers of meaning.
Birth of the Geisha Artisan
History records that the first self-styled geisha was Kikuya, a talented shamisen player and prostitute who lived in f*ckagawa around 1750. Throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a number of other pleasure quarter residents began to make a name for themselves as talented musicians, dancers or poets, rather than simply as sex workers.
The first official geisha were licensed in Kyoto in 1813, just fifty-five years before the Meiji Restoration, which ended the Tokugawa Shogunate and signaled the rapid modernization of Japan. Geisha did not disappear when the shogunate fell, despite the dissolution of the samurai class. It was World War II that really dealt a blow to the profession; almost all young women were expected to work in factories to support the war effort, and there were far fewer men left in Japan to patronize teahouses and bars.
Historical Impact on Modern Culture
Although the heyday of the geisha was short, the occupation still lives on in modern Japanese culture — however, some of the traditions have changed to adapt to the modern lifestyle of the people of Japan.
Such is the case with the age young women begin geisha training. Traditionally, apprentice geisha called maiko began training at about age 6, but today all Japanese students must stay in school through age 15 thus girls in Kyoto can begin their training at 16, while those in Tokyo usually wait until they are 18.
Popular with tourists and businesspeople alike, modern-day geisha support an entire industry within the eco-tourism industries of Japanese cities. They provide work for artists in all of the traditional skills of music, dance, calligraphy, who train the geisha in theircrafts. Geisha also buy top-of-the-line traditional products such as kimono, umbrellas, fans, shoes, and the sort, keeping craftsmen in work and preserving their knowledge and history for years to come.
FAQs
A geisha symbolizes grace, elegance, and refined artistry in the captivating world of Kyoto. These highly skilled entertainers specialize in traditional Japanese arts like dance, music, and tea ceremonies. They are respected professionals and not courtesans.
What do geisha girls do in Japan? ›
Geisha will take classes in various art forms six days a week and get two days off from work each month. The geisha entertains guests through dancing, performing music, conversations, and other arts held in teahouses. They are also modern-day models and local ambassadors of traditional Japanese culture.
Are there still real geishas in Japan? ›
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.
What does a geisha girl represent? ›
The word is formed of two kanji characters: 芸 (gei), meaning art, and 者 (sha), meaning person. So we can literally translate geisha as meaning 'a person of the arts' or a performing artist. More specifically, Japanese geisha are professional female entertainers who specialize in the country's traditional cultural arts.
Why were geishas white? ›
In the past, there was no electricity in Japan, so artists entertained by dim candlelight. Eventually, they started painting the faces white to look more beautiful in such conditions.
Are geishas mistresses? ›
The geisha is not hired to have sex with a client; she is hired to entertain, with music, dance, conversation, and pleasant company more generally. We should see geisha as refined professionals, the gei (芸) in geisha meaning “the arts”, as distinctly contrasted against the prostitutes, or yûjo (遊女, lit.
How do geishas sleep? ›
The Geisha also goes through significant pain during the hairdressing process. It is therefore in everyone's interest to keep the hair in immaculate condition. For this reason, a Geisha sleeps with her neck on a small wooden support or takamakura.
What happens when geishas get old? ›
For the rest who chose to be a geisha it is a lifetime profession though so many geisha eventually quit in their thirties and forties and become housewives. If they don't quit, most geisha become an okiya owner or inherit the okiya they are affiliated and run a geisha house.
Can geishas have children? ›
There is no specific retirement age for geisha, so if they don't want to marry, they can continue being a geisha throughout their lives. Conversely, despite being unable to marry, it's still acceptable for geishas to have children – and it's relatively common.
Is a geisha a concubine? ›
Geisha were entertainers who were indentured to geisha houses through a contract system, whereas concubines had a 'stable, ongoing sexual relationship' with a man of the household but occupied a position below the wife. In Japan, concubines were registered as part of the household until 1882.
Cultural Interest and Curiosity: Participants, especially women, express a strong interest in understanding the cultural aspects of being a geisha. Some believe that women are generally more curious and interested in exploring different cultures, such as Japanese culture through the geisha experience.
Is Memoirs of a geisha a true story? ›
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.
How long does it take to become a geisha? ›
In order to become a geisha, it takes an apprentice about an average of 6 years to successfully master the arts of music, dance, tea ceremony, language and being a first-class hostess. During this time, they go through several stages of training to gain the necessary skills required for their profession.
Why do geishas have yellow teeth? ›
At the core of their traditional Japanese performance art, geishas apply distinctive white makeup, known as oshiroi, to achieve an otherworldly and ethereal appearance. This makeup symbolizes the ideal beauty and grace associated with a geisha. The stark white geisha makeup made natural teeth look yellow by contrast.
Are geishas celibate? ›
Some geisha would sleep with their customers, whereas others would not, leading to distinctions such as kuruwa geisha – a geisha who slept with customers as well as entertaining them through performing arts – yujō ("prostitute") and jorō ("whor*") geisha, whose only entertainment for male customers was sex, and machi ...
Why is geisha controversial? ›
Critics believe that Memoirs not only enforces the stereotype that Japanese women are as submissive as they are sexual, but by doing so also spreads false and offensive information on the true nature of geisha. Japanese women and encourages the reader to view geisha as an example of the strangeness of the East.
What do modern day geishas do? ›
Many experienced geisha are successful enough to choose to live independently, though living independently is more common in some geisha districts – such as those in Tokyo – than others. Geisha are often hired to attend parties and gatherings, traditionally at tea houses or traditional Japanese restaurants (ryōtei).
What are geishas not allowed to do? ›
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.
What is the life of a geisha girl? ›
Geisha, at the most fundamental level, are professional entertainers. They are trained in a variety of Japanese traditional arts, such as dancing, singing, flute, and shamisen (a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument), as well as the art of hospitality.
