The breathtaking Story of the Japanese Geisha
You decided to ultimately purchase that favorite Asian collectible at last! You chose the Japanese Geisha figurine first because she is so beautiful. You are undoubtedly not alone in your decision. Now that you see this elegant Japanese kimono doll displayed on your shelf at home, or in your office, what can help you appreciate her unique symbolism more fully? It has been well said that "geisha" are pro hostesses who entertain customers straight through a variety of performing Japanese arts. In the Japanese language the word "gei" assuredly means "art or performance." The word "sha" means "person." A rough (and probably somewhat simple) translation into English for "geisha" might be "a female performing artist serving as a hostess." From their earliest history in Japan, the Geisha performing artist had to patiently endure approved training in order to accumulate her title. The best Geisha had to continue to heighten upon her skills over a lifetime by taking many lessons. Sadly, some aspects of the Geisha lifestyle were not glamorous at all. For instance, until the middle of the twentieth century many young Japanese girls were sold into the Geisha profession by their own families! These girls, when reaching the approved age, would then become subject to the ritual of the "mizu-age." This ritual is essentially the selling of the young woman's virginity to the highest bidder. The practice was done away with following World War Ii.
The elegant Japanese Geisha of the past lived in a world most habitancy today barely understand. Basically, there were two types of geisha... Then and now. One type is called "tachikata." This type of geisha commonly dances in the former Japanese style called "mai." The other type of geisha is called "jikata." The second type usually sings or plays musical instruments. Tachikata are the "maiko" (young geisha) while jikata are the experienced geisha artisans. The maiko could be conception of as "an apprentice" to the more experienced geisha. The geishas lived in city districts known as "hanamachi." Two of the most renowned hanamachi (in the past and today) are settled in Tokyo and Kyoto. Some hanamachi developed near temples and shrines. Near these were sometimes "ochava" or tea houses where prospective business clients would often visit. However, the Japanese ochava is dfferent from an lowly tea house which merely serves tea to customers. In reality, ochava were banquet houses. Such houses would rent rooms for whole supper parties at which geishas could entertain many customers at a time.
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Since the geisha was trained strictly in high culture and the Japanese arts, she possessed many principal skills. She was incredible to be proficient in the refined abilities of Japanese dance, singing, and playing musical instruments. It was assumed that she could dispose flowers, wear very gorgeous kimonos, hold tea ceremonies, write calligraphy, and engage freely in formal conversations and Japanese etiquette. These very developed abilities no doubt added greatly to the idea that a geisha was the essence of feminine charm and refined culture in Japan. Almost as a matter of unwritten law in Japanese society, the geisha could not marry. Most of the male clients of the geisha were already married to a former Japanese wife which had been chosen for this man by his parents. For this reason, the geisha was not perceived as a "threat" to the practice of marriage in old Japan.
Despite all these facts, the negative connotation even today of the geisha is that she was also a prostitute. This idea has grown out of the fact that geishas usually entertained male customers who usually had ample monetary resources to accumulate the business loyalty of a single ochava. Some of the hanamachi were also settled physically close to the delight district of the city. It should be noted that not whatever could afford to hire the services of the geishas. The ochava was a "for behalf business" which approved only unavoidable clients. In addition, providing sex to male customers was not considered to be part of the geisha's pro services. If this happened, it was the geisha's personal choice but was never something demanded by her employment. Such an incident like this one would have been considered a scandal among the geisha community.
So when we eye the elegant Japanese kimono doll, its importance becomes good understood by this old story of the Japanese Geisha. The kimono, like all the articles of her trade, reflects the art and seasonal festivals of Japan. Her obi, hair pins, face paint, and movements are all combined together into one living work of Japanese high culture, tradition, and beauty. Yes, that small but elegant kimono doll on your shelf is the essence of the geisha! Today, geishas still do their work but most of the negative associations of the past are gone. Few Japanese women aspire to be geishas any longer since the examine and behalf are limited. Plus, the hard training is often considered too difficult for the reward provided later. Ironically, the geisha of today often learns computer skills or English conversation to be more at ease with English-speaking customers who visit Japan. Even so, the classic charm and elegance of the Japanese kimono doll continues to attract us. It is not hard to understand why knowing all the facts!
Harlan Urwiler answering all your Asian collectibles questions.
The breathtaking Story of the Japanese Geisha
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