Gion+and+the+World+of+the+Geisha

=Gion and the World of the Geisha=

During researching this topic, I came across many unknown words that I thought may be helpful in understanding in our introduction to the world of the Geisha:

Maiko-an apprentice geisha Mama-san-owner of Okiya Okiya- is the lodging house in which a maiko or geisha lives during the length of her nenki, or contract or career as a geisha. geiko-another name given to geisha Gion-area known as Geisha territory, district of Kyoto, Japan


 * I would encourage any of you interested in this topic to watch the movie, Memoirs of a Geisha. Here is a sample of what to expect...**
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The courtesans of the pleasure quarters were trained in various arts: music, dance and poetry as well as other forms of court entertainment that up until that time had been known only to the nobility. As times changed so did the tastes of the customers; the formality and expense involved meant only the elite were able to patronize the //Tayu// (the top level courtesans). With the change in attitudes came a new type of entertainer. It was in the early 1700s when the first male-geisha appeared on the scene. However, it was not long before some entrepreneurial female entertainers followed suit and the first women geisha, as we know them today, made their debut. Their role was simple: 1. No flashy kimonos or hair ornaments. 2. No sitting next to customers. 3. Do not interfere with the courtesan’s customers. Courtesan entertainment peaked in the mid-18th century and from then on the geisha would become the most skilled entertainers in the ‘floating world’ of the pleasure quarters. Although numbers are declining, the modern //geiko// still practices her arts with the same dedication as her fore-sisters did, always trying to add to her repertoire of //gei// (arts). Competition with art-oriented hostess bars, karaoke and a waning economy makes mere survival a challenge for newcomers to the trade. Many find the lifestyle and schedule too demanding and eventually leave the hanamachi for a less disciplined line of work. The transition of the //geiko// from fashion innovator to cultural curator has raised the question of the very future of the //hanamachi//. Some say that the //geiko// are old-fashioned and should disappear while they still have their dignity. Others believe that as long as Japanese men still feel nostalgia for the past, the //geiko// will always have a place in Japanese society. Whether it be a graceful slide into extinction or a complete sell-out to the tourist industry, their numbers will inevitably decrease, taking with them an important part of Japanese culture and history.
 * Traditional Images of the Geisha:**
 * History of the Geisha: (The following was adapted from a website http://www.kyotosightsandnights.com/index.html)**
 * The geisha, along with Mt. Fuji, samurai and sushi have long been symbols of Japan ever since the reopening of contacts with the West in the mid-nineteenth century. With the disappearance of the samurai and the influx of Western influence in Japan, only the geisha and their world still remain a mystery to both foreigners and Japanese alike. Thanks to books and movies, a renewed interest has drawn many to examine the background of this group.

=Most Often Asked Questions About Geisha= //What exactly are geisha?// //I read the book and saw the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Is it like that in the geisha world today?// //Why is meeting a geisha so expensive?// //Are they sold into the Okiya (boarding houses)?// After spending some time trying to understand the world of the Geisha, I have come to understand them as artist and not as just symbols. The very time-consuming rituals and level of competition among the geisha performers reveals a depth of ability that for me goes far beyond the costume element which seems to be how many know them. Their training, effort and skill required tremendous talent and patience, that was not tolerable by just anyone. Simply learning the art of folding could take years to master. In our world of instant gratification, it is difficult to understand. I found it especially interesting that they were both honored and made separate within their society. Also, I took note that copies of the Gion territory were developed throughout Japan showing an interest in refinement and talent as well as beauty. The Geisha seemed to hold greater social power than women in any other position in Japanese society. The cycle of apprenticing was solely woman to woman, creating a position-driven, sometimes hostile need to control one another in order to maintain one's status. It will be interesting to compare the lives of the Geisha women found in books, stories, movies and websites to the one's we will learn about in person. I am looking forward to finding out more about them. ||  ||   || Websites of Interest: http://www.kyotosightsandnights.com/ (offers information of city of Kyoto) http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/memoirsofageisha/index.html (movie clips and info)
 * They are female entertainers. The meaning of** //gei// **is "art" and** //sha// **means "person of".** //Geiko// **is a Kyoto term for geisha that means more of a "specialist of the arts".** //Maiko// **are young geisha ranging in age from 15 to 20 or 21 years old.** //Mai// **means dance, and and** //ko// **is specialist of dance**
 * “Memoirs of a Geisha” is a fictional novel set in the 1920’s in Kyoto. The author was not alive during this time and very few geisha living today were either. It is a well researched book.**
 * The //geiko/maiko// wear very expensive kimono $30,000-$80,000 onwards. If you were to hire a professional entertainer for a private party in the west it would probably be just as expensive or probably more.**
 * It is highly unlikely that Kyoto //geiko/maiko// were ever sold into Kyoto okiyas. The young women choose this life and most times have to try and persuade their parents to let them enter this world.** ||  ||
 * =Personal Reflection:=