Table of Contents
What is a oiran girl?
Oiran (花魁) was a name given to a prostitute who was very popular and highly regarded, mostly for her beauty, in the brothels of Yoshiwara in Edo (Tokyo). In the Edo period, prostitution conducted in specified areas, called yuukaku (遊郭), like Yoshiwara and was legal.
What is the difference between a geisha and a geiko?
Geisha are professional artists who are registered in official geisha associations and excel in traditional Japanese arts and crafts such as shamisen playing, dancing, and tea ceremony. Geiko is the word that refers to geisha in the Kyoto dialect.
What did an oiran do?
Many people confuse oiran with geisha, or the other way round, but they are totally different things. Being a geisha is a job where they entertain guests at banquets with traditional Japanese singing, koto or shamisen performances, and so on. An oiran is a high ranked sex worker in the Edo period.
What rank is oiran?
Oiran (花魁) An oiran refers to a high-ranking courtesan in the pleasure quarter of Yoshiwara. Around the mid-18th century, senior courtesans were addressed as “oiran” by their underlings such as kamuro or shinzo. Then “oiran” became the word used to refer to a high- ranking courtesan in Yoshiwara.
How do I become an oiran?
In order to become an oiran, a woman first had to be educated in a range of skills from a relatively young age, including sadō (Japanese tea ceremony), ikebana (flower arranging) and calligraphy. Oiran also learned to play the koto, shakuhachi, tsuzumi (hand drum), shamisen and kokyū.
Why does oiran walk like?
Oiran wore black geta that were heavy high heels. They would wear these geta, which were called a sanmaiba geta (三枚歯下駄), during the oiran douchuu. With these geta, they would walk in the Hachimonji style (八文字).
What is oiran walk?
Oiran Dochu is a procession-reenactment of processions done by the oiran, the courtesans of Yoshiwara in Edo Period, with a purpose to advertise the houses they worked in. The reenactment involves men and women dressed up in Edo period costumes.
Is oiran higher than geisha?
The history of the geisha and courtesans The most common type of prostitutes was known as Yūjo (遊女), which means “Woman to Play With,” who would line up on verandas each night to be chosen by customers. In contrast, the highest-ranking of them, who were the true courtesans, were the Oiran (花魁) and the Tayū (太夫).
What is an oiran job?
Who are the geishas?
Geishas are simply entertainers. They are supposed to be hosts for parties and provide informal, plain backdrop (willow) to the oirans (flower). In fact, the rise of the geishas begun the fall of the oirans. Oiran fee was extremely expensive (more than a shop assistant’s yearly wage, per night).
What is the difference between Oiran Dochu and geisha?
As introduced in the explanation of Oiran Dochu, while the customer waits for the Oiran at the Ageya, the Geisha perform the art and entertain the customer. Oiran and Geisha have different roles. At that time, it was prohibited for Geisha to play with customers like Oiran. If a Geisha steal Oiran’s role, it will be serious trouble.
There are some borderline almost prostitution businesses around, but the women who work in them are not called oiran or yuujo. A geisha (芸者), geiko (芸子), or geiki (芸妓), is a trained entertainer who is very skilled in song, dance, playing an instrument, and otherwise entertaining guests.
What happens if a geisha steals oiran’s role?
Oiran and Geisha have different roles. At that time, it was prohibited for Geisha to play with customers like Oiran. If a Geisha steal Oiran’s role, it will be serious trouble. Also, Geisha has pride that they will sell their art performing, not their body.