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Arthur Golden\'s 1998 novel \'Memoirs of a Geisha\' revived interest in
an aspect of Japan that is so intrinsic to the Western stereotype
and yet so far removed from the reality of daily life here. Geisha do
still exist and ply their trade, of course. But the role they play
in modern society is minor and, except for the attention they get from
camera-wielding tourists, largely unseen. Like their male counterpart the samurai, the geisha (another
term is \'geiko\') and her world continue to fascinate people around the
world as part of their image of a mysterious and timeless Japan. While
many people assume that geisha is just a Japanese word for a prostitute,
the somewhat more romantic word \'courtesan\' is probably closer in
nuance, though even that is misleading when you consider
their history. The word geisha itself literally means \'person of the arts\'
- indeed the earliest geisha were men - and it is as performers of dance,
music and poetry that they actually spend most of their working time. History of geisha
Geisha have their roots in female entertainers such as the Saburuko of
the 7th century and the Shirabyoshi, who emerged around the early 13th
century. They would perform for the nobility and some even became
concubines to the emperor. It was in the late 16th century that the
first walled-in pleasure quarters were built in Japan. After
they were relocated in the mid-1600s, they became known as Shimabara. Meanwhile a marshy patch of land (Yoshi-wara) in Edo had been
designated as the site for a brothel district under the
auspices of the Tokugawa shogunate. Brothels and the like were not
allowed to operate outside the district and strict rules were applied.
Included among these were that no customers were allowed to stay in a
brothel more than 24 hours; courtesans were to wear simple dyed
kimonos. With Japan enjoying a long-awaited period of peace following centuries
of civil war, many samurai found that society no longer had such need of
their services. It\'s thought that many daughters of these formerly noble
families became courtesans, with the result that quarters such as
Yoshiwara and Shimabara were places of refinement and culture.
Peace also brought an increase in prosperity and the rise of the
merchant class. Add that to the presence of artists and an
atmosphere free of the strictures of the outside world, and it truly was
something of an adult amusement park, with culture thrown in for good
measure. Within the hanamichi (geiko district) there were many different classes
of courtesans, and over the decades the hierarchy and the standards
expected of them changed many times, not always for the better. The
situation deteriorated in the mid-18th century to the extent that a
new form of entertainer emerged in Kyoto and Osaka. The earliest geiko
were men, while the first females, who appeared shortly after, were
odoriko (dancers) or played the shamisen (musical instrument). Female
geisha soon became popular enough to be able to steal clients from the
courtesans, and in the case of Yoshiwara it was decided to start a
registration system, to keep them under control and force them to pay
taxes. It strictly controlled their dress, behaviour and movements and was
considered so successful that it quickly became the norm at hanamichi
across Japan. These strict rules in fact allowed the geisha to flourish as artists
and entertainers. Though more simply dressed than the courtesans, they
became regarded as fashion leaders. But many aspects of the lifestyle
itself were less glamorous. Young girls were sold into the geisha life by
their families until the mid-20th century and were often subject to the
ritual of \'mizu-age,\' whereby their virginity was sold to the highest
bidder. Such practices were eradicated after World War II and the
geisha profession went into a steady decline. Today, if geisha are
hired to entertain at a private party outside the upper echelons of
society, they are most likely to be seasoned veterans, more
akin to your favorite aunt or even grandmother than the girl next
door. Geisha hairstyles
The hairstyles of geisha have varied through history. In the past, it
has been common for women to wear their hair down in some periods, but up
in others. During the seventeenth century, women began putting all their
hair up again, and it is during this time that the traditional hairstyle,
shimada, developed. This is the hairstyle worn by geisha and generally
means that all the hair is pulled back in one section. These hairstyles
were decorated with elaborate hair-combs and hairpins, which
often symbolized status. Geisha make-up
Today the make-up of geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha) is one
of their most recognizable characteristics. Some believe that it
originated in China and was later adopted by the women in the Japanese
court. Women used rice-flour powder or lead-based powder mixed with
water, which formed a thin paste, and applied this paste to their faces as
a foundation. They would then remove their eyebrows with tweezers
and paint in thick false eyebrows high on their forehead. Next come the
lips, which are filled in using a small brush. Crystallized sugar is then
added to give the lips luster. Apparently, historically, very small
lips were once considered sensual and attractive. Study
The course of arts study encompasses a wide variety of arts,
including the shamisen, percussion, flute, voice (singing), classical
Japanese dance, tea ceremony, and more rarely flower arranging (ikebana),
poetry and literature. In addition, by watching and assisting senior
geisha, the students also become skilled in the complex traditions
surrounding selecting, matching, and wearing precious kimono, in various
games and the art of conversation, and in dealing with clients.
Unknown words:
intrinsic - присущий, свойственный
to ply - упорно, усердно заниматься, много работать
to wield - владеть, иметь в своем распоряжении
counterpart - копия; двойник
nuance - нюанс, оттенок
to mislead - вводить в заблуждение
nobility - дворянство; родовая знать
concubine - любовница, содержанка
walled-in - обнесённый стеной
quarter - квартал
marshy - болотистый
to designate - определять
brothel - публичный дом
under the auspices of - под покровительством
dyed - окрашенный
refinement - утонченность, изящество
prosperity - преуспевание, процветание
merchant - купец; торговый
hierarchy - иерархия
to deteriorate - ухудшаться
to eradicate - искоренять; истреблять
decline - падение, упадок
seasoned - бывалый, опытный; испытанный
akin - похожий
elaborate - (устар.) искусно сделанный; тонкой работы
comb - гребень; расческа
apprentice - ученик; новичок; начинающий
court - двор ( короля и т. п. )
lead - свинец
tweezers - пинцет
luster - глянец, блеск
to encompass - заключать
THE WORD OF WISDOM
Even when our sleeves brush together it is our karma.
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A Friendly Japanese
How courteous is the Japanese;
He always says, "Excuse it, please."
He climbs into his neighbor\'s garden.
And smiles, and says, "I beg your pardon;"
He bows and grins a friendly grin,
And calls his hungry family in;
He grins, and bows a friendly bow;
"So sorry, this my garden now."
- Ogden Nash
Australian And Japanese Talking
An Australian man was sitting in his favorite restaurant when a
Japanese bloke said to him, "I am sick of seeing your big round
eyes."
The Australian replied, "Put on a blind fold."
The Japanese man asked, "Where do I get one?
The Australian then said, "Here take my shoe lace."
Frustrated Japanese Father
A frustrated Japanese father vented, "When I was a
youngster, I was disciplined by being sent to my room without supper. But
in my son\'s room, he has his own color TV, telephone, computer, and CD
player."
"So what do you do?" asked his friend.
"I send him to MY room!" exclaimed the father.
Unknown words:
courteous - вежливый, учтивый, любезный
to climb - взбираться, влезать
to bow - кланяться
to grin - ухмыляться; усмехаться
bloke - малый, парень
blindfold - повязка на глаза; с завязанными глазами
lace - шнурок
frustrated - расстроенный, разочарованный
to vent - давать выход; изливать
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