The enchanting word "geisha". It came from no less mysterious Japan, which has always distanced itself from the rest of the world, trying to preserve its culture and identity. A lot has been written about the art of specially trained women who could support any conversation and were able to create a secret world of beauty around them. But, despite this, much of the geisha has remained an unsolved mystery to this day.
The word "geisha" comes from the Japanese geisha, which means "a man of art". Geisha learned a fairly wide range of skills - singing, dancing, poetry, etiquette, the ability to maintain small talk, literature, conducting a tea ceremony, gracefully wearing national clothes and shoes, correct and competent speech, beautiful movement, developing a certain timbre of voice and smoothness of gestures, and also the art of drawing up flower arrangements. But still the main duty of a geisha was the ability to conduct a sincere conversation with a man. Geisha learned everything that could make them irresistible and desirable. Their whole life was dedicated to serving men. They were available and not available at the same time. Geisha easily gained access to the upper classes of society.
It is believed that the first geisha appeared in Japan sometime in the 17th century. The most amazing thing is that the first geisha were men! These were the musicians and actors of the famous Japanese kabuki theaters - such entertainers and entertainers who were called geisy. Only in 1751 did a woman become a geisei.
Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo have the largest geisha cultural centers. Intelligent and skillful geisha entertained teahouse customers with a fun, engaging conversation and playing a three-stringed musical instrument, the shamisen. Geisha dances have always been in demand by visitors at all parties and events, since it was in the dance that the master could show all her sensuality and sexuality. Geisha could demonstrate their high skill in dancing thanks to many hours of exhausting training. It must be said that geisha learns numerous skills and abilities almost all the time, right up to the end of their career.
It is believed that the heyday of geisha came in the 19th century, when they became muses and stars for men in creative professions - artists, poets. In those days, for Japanese women from poor families, there were only two ways - a brothel or a home. In the first case, a woman had a chance to become an aristocrat. But the work of geisha is not easy. Most of the life of Japanese artisans was spent in traditional Japanese restaurants and tea houses. There, a geisha acts as the hostess of the party, entertaining not only men, but also their companions. The main duty of the geisha was to promote the fun pastime of dear guests, respecting their dignity and easily flirting with them. As a rule, geisha labor was hourly, but with a fixed payment they could also receive tips - they were called "flower money."
In Japan, many people know the names of famous geishas. The highest paid geisha of all time, the Japanese consider Mineko Iwasaki.
And her life began, like many girls from families who do not have enough means to support their lives. As a rule, children from six to seven years of age from poor families were taken to the geisha school. Parents received a payment for each child. Having matured, these children practically never returned to their family.
From the first days, in a new home for them, they were taught a positive outlook. They learned to enjoy everything: the breath of a light breeze, a beautiful sunset, a simple flower. All the girls' lives were spent in the houses of geisha - okiya. They worked constantly, first as maids, and then as assistants to the chief geisha, who in turn trained future masters. In Japan, this tradition has ancient roots: a student lives and studies in his teacher's house, doing homework, assisting his mentor and at the same time becoming a master in the profession. Growing up, girls invariably turned into confident women.
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Today, according to Japanese law, a girl cannot become a servant (maiko) in a geisha's house unless she receives a high school diploma at the age of 15. Only after that she has the right to agree with the owner of one of the geisha schools to become a "shikomi" (servant). Shikomi's responsibilities include cleaning, chores, and helping older sisters. Six months later, they pass the exam and move on to the next stage - they become "misedashi". From that moment on, they were considered novice geisha (maiko) and given a new name.
Traditionally, a maiko must go through five steps to become a geisha. For girls who have chosen the path of a geisha, it is very important to follow well-established customs regarding hairstyles, clothes, shoes and makeup.
For example, a maiko at every stage has the right to change its hairstyle, which symbolizes the transition to a higher level. And before parting with children's jewelry and accessories, the maiko undergoes the ritual of “changing the collar” (“erikae”) - the collar of the maiko is embroidered with white or gold threads, while the geisha's collar is white and smooth. At the erikae ceremony, a bun of hair on the crown of the girl's head is cut, which should mean her transition from a girl to a young woman. Now this maiko ceremony takes place no earlier than 20 or 21 years old - the date of the ceremony depends entirely on the decision of the okiya mistress.
Geisha gets the opportunity to work on a personal schedule to pay off his mistress for many years of shelter and training. And the more invitations a geisha has to various parties and events, the faster she can pay off her debts. Many of the geisha are trying to acquire patrons ("data"). This patron is not necessarily the lover of a young artisan - it may just be a philanthropist who likes the company of a geisha. Often the geisha and the dunn are linked by close love relationships. Dana's main responsibility is to financially support the geisha and help her grow in popularity. Thanks to the help and patronage of this geisha, she can quickly become independent, paying off her debt to the mistress of the okiya.
It would be a mistake to attribute a geisha to courtesans or prostitutes - a geisha has a much higher social status. Due to their professionalism and maintaining a vivid embodiment of femininity, as well as ancient Japanese traditions, geisha enjoy well-deserved respect in society. An interesting fact is that since the advent of geisha, there has been a legislative act prohibiting geisha to provide services for a fee. Therefore, it is believed that the professional duties of a geisha do not include providing intimate services to clients, and if a geisha does this, then this is not her profession, but exclusively her personal life.
In Japan, they say that "they become geisha not because they choose, but because there is no choice." But, despite the seeming hopelessness in choosing their path in life for girls from poor families, everyone recognizes that geisha are a living work of art who skillfully create a hidden world where beauty and female wisdom reign.