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Geisha - Click here to see the gallery.
Geisha (芸者, Geisha geisha, literally art-person, or person of the arts) are
traditional Japanese artist-entertainers. In the Kansai region the terms Geiko (芸
妓, Geiko) and, for apprentice geisha, Maiko (舞妓, Maiko) have also been used
since the Meiji Restoration. Geisha were very common in the 18th and 19th
centuries; they still exist today, although their numbers are dwindling.
History
Geisha originated as skilled professional entertainers; originally most were male.
While various ranks of professional courtesans provided sexual entertainment,
geisha used their skills in traditional Japanese arts, music, dance, and
storytelling. Town (machi) geisha worked freelance at parties outside the various
pleasure quarters, while quarter (kuruwa) geisha entertained at parties within the
pleasure quarters. As the artistic skills of high-ranking courtesans declined, the
skills of the geisha, who were both male and female, became more in demand.
Male geisha (sometimes known as hōkan) gradually began to decline, and by
1800 female geisha (originally known as onna geisha, literally woman geisha)
outnumbered them by three to one, and the term "geisha" came to be
understood as referring to skilled female entertainers, as it does today.
Traditionally, geisha began their training at a very young age. Some girls were
sold to geisha houses as children, and began their training in various traditional
arts almost immediately.
During their childhood, geisha sometimes worked first as maids or assistants to
experienced geisha, and then as apprentice geisha (maiko) during their training.
This tradition of training exists as well in other traditions in Japan, when a student
lives at the home, starting out doing housework and assisting the master, and
eventually himself or herself becoming a master.
Geisha (芸者, Geisha geisha, literally art-person, or person of the arts) are
traditional Japanese artist-entertainers. In the Kansai region the terms Geiko (芸
妓, Geiko) and, for apprentice geisha, Maiko (舞妓, Maiko) have also been used
since the Meiji Restoration. Geisha were very common in the 18th and 19th
centuries; they still exist today, although their numbers are dwindling.
History
Geisha originated as skilled professional entertainers; originally most were male.
While various ranks of professional courtesans provided sexual entertainment,
geisha used their skills in traditional Japanese arts, music, dance, and
storytelling. Town (machi) geisha worked freelance at parties outside the various
pleasure quarters, while quarter (kuruwa) geisha entertained at parties within the
pleasure quarters. As the artistic skills of high-ranking courtesans declined, the
skills of the geisha, who were both male and female, became more in demand.
Male geisha (sometimes known as hōkan) gradually began to decline, and by
1800 female geisha (originally known as onna geisha, literally woman geisha)
outnumbered them by three to one, and the term "geisha" came to be
understood as referring to skilled female entertainers, as it does today.
Traditionally, geisha began their training at a very young age. Some girls were
sold to geisha houses as children, and began their training in various traditional
arts almost immediately.
During their childhood, geisha sometimes worked first as maids or assistants to
experienced geisha, and then as apprentice geisha (maiko) during their training.
This tradition of training exists as well in other traditions in Japan, when a student
lives at the home, starting out doing housework and assisting the master, and
eventually himself or herself becoming a master.