Contents: IntroductionPlot Summary Characters Themes Style Critical Overview Criticism Sources Further Reading |
Historical Context
Japanese Geisha
Prior to the mid to late 1700s, geisha (professional entertainers) were primarily men who sang, played music, told jokes, and performed dances and theatrical presentations. They first appeared around 1600 and became a staple of social functions. As women entered the profession, however, men who enjoyed the performances preferred the charms of women to the antics of men. Even in the eighteenth century, female geisha wore their hair in elaborate styles, applied distinctive makeup, wore beautiful silk kimonos and intricately tied obis, and followed certain rules of propriety.
Geisha live in houses owned by whoever purchased them and paid for their education. The geisha's education includes dancing, singing, playing music, performing tea ceremonies, conversation, etiquette, local dialect, and serving food and beverages. The house staff is responsible for managing a geisha's schedule, booking her appearances at parties, performances at teahouses and events, and private gatherings.
Today, the geisha is a dying vestige of a past society. The numbers of geisha have rapidly dwindled, and the inability to interest today's girls in such a profession means the future is dim. Young Japanese women today tend to be more interested in emerging opportunities than in carrying on the traditions of the past.
