It literally means a "person of art". It has been a profession that has endured and blossomed with centuries of tradition in Japan.
Most people, who are new to the concept, either think it means a "prostitute" because some actual prostitutes call themselves that, or they have read Memoirs of a Geisha, which gives a much better albeit a sexually-charged-profession-based-account of the whole thing.
That the profession has a sexual aspect is undeniable, but at worst, a Geisha is similar to a high-class callgirl, or a mistress as the blue blooded regalities will have it, and this too is rather optional. It is (or at least used to be) relatively common for a Geisha to become a mistress to a rich man in order to pay back her dues.
But first and foremost, being a Geisha is about being perfection, in looks, manners and education. Their actual job consists of providing entertainment and creating a pleasant atmosphere at Geisha parties or so they can be called. This was in the past, Geisha parties were nothing special, but somewhere along the way, it turned from mainstream entertainment into what it is now.
Geisha trainees start at a very young age : they enter a Geisha house and are called tamago (egg). They get a very intensive education in classical Japanese poetry, music (especially the koto) and dance, as well as a broad general education (mainly aimed at improving conversational skills). At the age of 17, they are elevated to the level of a ‘Maiko’, not a full Geisha yet, but allowed to attend the parties and work partially. After they have become Geishas, they start to pay back the Geisha house for their education and equipment (a good kimono costs a fortune).
It literally means a "person of art". It has been a profession that has endured and blossomed with centuries of tradition in Japan.
ReplyDeleteMost people, who are new to the concept, either think it means a "prostitute" because some actual prostitutes call themselves that, or they have read Memoirs of a Geisha, which gives a much better albeit a sexually-charged-profession-based-account of the whole thing.
That the profession has a sexual aspect is undeniable, but at worst, a Geisha is similar to a high-class callgirl, or a mistress as the blue blooded regalities will have it, and this too is rather optional. It is (or at least used to be) relatively common for a Geisha to become a mistress to a rich man in order to pay back her dues.
But first and foremost, being a Geisha is about being perfection, in looks, manners and education. Their actual job consists of providing entertainment and creating a pleasant atmosphere at Geisha parties or so they can be called. This was in the past, Geisha parties were nothing special, but somewhere along the way, it turned from mainstream entertainment into what it is now.
Geisha trainees start at a very young age : they enter a Geisha house and are called tamago (egg). They get a very intensive education in classical Japanese poetry, music (especially the koto) and dance, as well as a broad general education (mainly aimed at improving conversational skills). At the age of 17, they are elevated to the level of a ‘Maiko’, not a full Geisha yet, but allowed to attend the parties and work partially. After they have become Geishas, they start to pay back the Geisha house for their education and equipment (a good kimono costs a fortune).
So eventually it is all sartorial you see…