Japanese geisha: Do you know about the product of comparison, complex class and repressed humanity?

When it comes to geisha, many people who don’t understand think that this profession is full of mystery and ambiguity, so many people think that it is difficult for geisha to become an elegant person. But in the eyes of people who understand, this profession is very elegant and respected.

Geisha is a very important item in Japanese traditional culture. Together with Mount Fuji and Kinkakuji Temple, it is known as the representative of Japan. Mount Fuji has been dormant since its eruption in 1707. As one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, it is very popular with tourists from all over the world. Kinkakuji Temple has also undergone many renovations and reconstructions, and has long lost its original appearance; This geisha, which has been passed down from more than 400 years ago, has made a strong mark in this bustling metropolis.

The requirements for becoming a geisha are very strict, and the skills she possesses are also carefully considered. The training cost is very high, and it is simply not affordable for ordinary people.

Today we will talk about this traditional culture that has not changed much for hundreds of years. It is also known as one of Japan's three business cards-Geisha.

1. History of the development of geisha

In 1603, after centuries of chaos, Tokugawa Ieyasu finally established the shogunate in Edo, but he did not yet completely control Japan. At that time, many Japanese daimyo were communicating with people overseas to secretly expand their power. In order to consolidate his rule, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the isolation of the country to cut off the unspeakable connections in the middle.

In 1625, Tokugawa Ieyasu once again issued an order stipulating that lords from various places must live in Edo on a regular basis, which is known in history as the "Jinjieji". The lords would bring their retainers, retainers, servants and money with them when they went to Edo, and the comparison between the lords was also very serious. Therefore, in order to highlight their own power and financial resources, the entertainment industry developed rapidly amidst the stimulation of competition among these people.

However, the Ming Dynasty incorporated beautiful women into dancers, maids, etc., while the warrior class had many singles due to various reasons, and the male-female ratio was seriously imbalanced. However, soon, women suitable for the warrior class began to appear in society. Kabuki. Geisha often perform in the flower world. At first, men played this role. After training, they performed some entertainment performances, which was called "niche kabuki".

By 1651, the Japanese government considered the issue of moral integrity and issued a decree banning male kabuki performances. Slowly, women began to enter this industry and gradually became the mainstream of this industry, while men basically disappeared from this industry.

Since the birth of geisha, they have been influenced by society and rectified by the shogunate. It wasn't until 1779, when Japan first introduced a policy to legalize geisha as a profession, that geisha was basically finalized. Until the 21st century, Japanese geisha performances have maintained their original appearance, and the art of performance has continued unabated.

Prostitutes refer to men, but since men disappeared from this industry, they were renamed "prostitutes". During the Edo period, geishas could also sell themselves, so they were naturally regarded as competitors by prostitutes. Therefore, there was an agreement in the Yoshiwara area: no one was allowed to sell their bodies while performing arts. As a result, the line between geisha and prostitutes was drawn, and the word "prostitute" originally meant to represent women was changed to "geisha" again.

In the 19th century, Japan's economy and culture began to prosper and develop. Geisha also thrived under the stimulus of the economy. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan's industry and commerce grew rapidly. More and more people had more spare money, and the number of banquets increased dramatically, which had a very important impact on the rise of geisha. Secondly, with the development of society, prostitutes have a great influence on social morals, so the shogunate has always adopted high-pressure policies to ban private prostitution.

At the beginning of the 21st century, with the integration and exchange of Japanese culture and Western culture, and the practice of geisha was very difficult, it was estimated that there were only about 200 geishas in Kyoto at that time, and many geishas switched to other geishas. With the use of neon lights, people's enthusiasm for traditional culture has gradually cooled down, and traditional art has gradually lost its previous light in the neon lights.

2. Geisha makeup

When we see geisha, we will definitely ask involuntarily: "Why do their faces have to be so white and their mouths so red?"

It is said that at the beginning of the birth of geisha, performances were performed in taverns and other places. The lighting ratio of the longhouse, a traditional Japanese building, and the kerosene lamps used indoors, still made it impossible to watch the wonderful performance of geisha clearly. Performance.

So in order to express their beauty in a darker environment, geishas will apply thick white powder on their faces and necks and draw bright red lips. But the hands are not painted. This is because the geisha's job is not only to perform, but also to pour wine for the guests. The hands are not painted to show cleanliness.

In the early days, these white powders were made of lead or mercury, which were extremely irritating to the skin and very harmful to the skin. Therefore, many geishas were young, but their skin had already become saggy. The seemingly simple bun is also very complicated. First, before tying the bun, apply a very sticky hairspray to the hair, then tie it into a bun on your head in different styles, and put a piece of silk inside the bun. Sometimes, in order to set the style, you have to put pieces of paper on it, fix it with hair forks and ribbons, and then add hairpins.

In addition to retro makeup, the elegant kimono can be called another synonym for geisha. At present, the geisha world can almost be called a female world. Except for a very small number of men who are "dressers", all other professions are female.

How particular are geisha’s clothes that a profession has been developed to dress them specially?

The living expenses of geishas are very high, a large part of which is kimonos. One kimono usually costs thousands of dollars, and in order to perform, each of them must buy more than ten sets. A set of exquisite kimono even has more than 20 layers and weighs more than 20 kilograms. It was basically impossible for a woman to put on such clothes by herself, so a profession was born - dresser, who specialized in dressing geishas.

The kimono worn by geisha is different from ordinary kimono. The traditional kimono wraps a woman's neck tightly, but the geisha's kimono not only exposes the neck, but also deliberately tilts it backwards. It is said that in the eyes of the Japanese, the geisha's neck is very charming.

3. Geisha's manners

To become a geisha, you have to go through many hardships, and you need to master a variety of skills. Geishas make a living by art, and learning art is naturally a compulsory course. They have to practice poetry, dance, harp, tea ceremony, calligraphy, illustration, conversation and other arts. They also have to learn how to walk, how to bow, how to pour wine and other life etiquette. , even including how to open sliding doors gracefully.

But this is not enough. As a qualified geisha, their memory and ability to observe faces are also a great test. In order to allow customers to relax and express their extraordinary conversation, they must know everything from all over the world, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, and have a certain understanding of international news, even gossip, so that they can Liven up the atmosphere in the first place.

What is more important is the ability to observe words and emotions and deal with customers easily. This is not an ability that can be mastered in just a few days. When men communicate with geishas, ??they get a sense of relaxation and happiness from entertainment, but for geishas, ??this is a very serious process and a manifestation of the results of years of study and practice.

It is even more difficult to spend money and energy to cultivate a "famous actress", but once cultivated, he will definitely be sought after. Many wealthy families and business tycoons spend a lot of money to find out their talent.

4. Geisha Industry Rules

Geishas in the feudal era usually began to learn skills at the age of 10. Nowadays, they can only learn skills after graduating from middle school, usually 14 or 15 years old. about. Entering a well-known okiya to practice, usually lasting up to 5 years.

Because the content that geisha needs to learn is very complex, the process is also very difficult. So there are countless people who left midway. And because geisha is an ancient traditional culture, Japan's class system is even more highlighted.

You can become a maiko when you are about 16 years old, and then become a geisha. Generally, the career of a geisha only lasts until the age of 30. If you plan to continue to be a geisha after the age of 30, you must downgrade and become a foil to a young and beautiful geisha.

Throughout the entire career of a geisha, a geisha is not allowed to marry in order to maintain a "pure" image. As for the way out after retiring, most people find a suitable person to marry; if they have more savings, they can also open their own geisha house. However, due to current social prejudices, misunderstandings and other reasons, in fact, many geishas after retiring Life was miserable.

The scope of Geisha’s activities is relatively closed, making it difficult for outsiders to intervene. If someone wants to enter this circle or watch a geisha performance, they must be recommended by an acquaintance. Otherwise, even if you have gone to the tavern where they perform, you will not be able to see the performance.

Summary

Geisha is a reflection of traditional Japanese society. The traditional class system is complex and depressing human nature, and the harsh training requirements are also prohibitive. Women's puberty only lasts for more than ten years. In addition, the thick white powder on the face irritates the skin, and the beauty and beauty soon fade. The security system after retirement is not good. These can be regarded as good for those who want to become geisha. Dissuaded from withdrawing the book.

As people of the new era, many people believe that such a profession suppresses women and focuses on pleasing men, which is not in line with our desire for equality between men and women.

Geisha has now become a "sunset industry." You may still be able to see the prosperity of geisha in the past in Gojo Flower Street in Kyoto. The demise of geisha may only be a matter of time, but geishas in this industry are still working hard, traveling around the world to perform performances to increase the popularity of geisha and attract more people to carry on the tradition.

Geisha can be said to be elegant but not vulgar. They travel in pubs, okiya and other places. In the bustling Kyoto, they play the ancient Japanese musical instrument - shamisen and sing ancient music. The graceful figure is also a beautiful scenery.