Famous geisha, this exciting symbol of ancient Japan, how many rumors and mysteries it has generated. So who were and do they still exist - these mysterious women, popularly called "willow flowers"?
Short story
Many believe that geisha are akin to a prostitute, although in Japan this ancient craft was practiced by yujo and joro. Both those and others spun in the same social space and participated in the same events held in the later called "fun quarters", specially designated for yujo residence. Geisha did not live there, they were invited only as a "toastmaster". Translated from Japanese, "geisha" means "man of art", they entertained the elite society with songs, dances, playing instruments and, most importantly, conversations. A geisha and a yujo can even be distinguished by their appearance: the belt of a Japanese harlot is tied in front with a simple knot so that it is possible to take off a kimono more than once a day, and for a geisha - from behind and so that even she herself would not be able to untie it without help … Even at the level of the law, they were forbidden to provide such services, although it was possible to have a patron and even have children from him. But they could get married, however, only after leaving the rank of geisha.
Nowadays
Geisha exist now, however, due to the popularization of Western society, they are perceived more as echoes of the past and a tribute to tradition. Of course, after a quarter of a millennium since the beginning of their formation (before that the role of "toastmaster" in Japanese society was given exclusively to men), they have undergone some changes, but retained their main function - to subtly entertain people. The presence of a geisha at an event, even now, adds value and shows a high level of reception. They engage guests in intellectual conversation, sometimes even flirting with them, making men blush, and making sure that there is no empty space next to each dignitary.
In modern Japan, there are few geisha left - only about a thousand, while a century ago there were tens of thousands of them. Their historical homeland is considered to be Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, where six "fun quarters" are still preserved. But, with the transfer of the capital to Tokyo, politicians and officials, the geisha's main source of income, left. Today, there are about a hundred geisha left in Kyoto, the rest have moved to the new capital. Now they become geisha by their own choice, while before they were beggars, whose families could not feed them. They lead a modest lifestyle and try not to show themselves to tourists. In the photographs taken by tourists, there are by no means geisha, but maiko, their students, or even disguised actresses. The highest level is occupied by oka-san, a kind of elite. They attend government receptions in teahouses, must be fluent in foreign languages and be familiar with contemporary literature and art. In addition, the oka-san head the Kyoto geisha school, the only one of its kind.
Mysterious, attractive, in multi-colored kimonos, on wooden sandals, thanks to which they walk so gracefully in small steps, with an intricate hairstyle, an unnaturally bleached face, bright lips and eyeliner, geisha seem to wear a mask. It is not surprising that it still attracts tourists so much - this mysterious, which has become an integral part of Japanese culture, but unfortunately an endangered profession - geisha.
