http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/d/downer-01pleasure.

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Women of the Pleasure Quarters : The Secret History of the Geisha

Japan is rich in culture and history that is present even today. One way that Japan has preserved its culture is through Geishas. This is all seen in In Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha by Lesley Downer. Geishas show both the art and history of Japan. Kyoto, also known as the Capital of Peace and Tranquility, is the city in Japan in which the art of being a geisha developed. Aristocrats of the Heian court had much time to dedicate to leisure in which were filled with the pursuit of art and beauty. In this society, "following the Confucian precepts which governed society, marriage was a purely political affair arranged by the parents to create an advantageous alliance between families" (Downer 3). Prostitutes who were refined professionals, and were known for their good family, beauty, talent or brilliance were reffered to as courtesans. They were skilled musicians, dancers and singers and these "high-class courtesans were the original precursors of the geisha" (Downer 67). Geishas are a mysterious and often beautiful part of Japanese history and culture. The Heian period was at the time of the Vikings, William and Conqueror and King Canute. During this time in Kyoto "love was an art form" (Downer 3) and it wasn't associated with marriage; marriage was chosen by families. Heian noblewoman were highly educated and lived

their lives covered up and not shown in society. A nobleman would write a waka, a thirty one syllable poem, to a lady he heard was beautiful and if she thought the poem and handwriting was ____ then she would reply. After a few exchanges, the man would make a visit to her during the night. He would remove his clothes and lie down next to the woman and consummate the relationship. He would leave before dawn and then write a morning-after poem and they would decide if they want to continue the affair or not. Famous Heian beauties include Ono no Komachi and Shizuka Gozen. At the turn of the seventeenth century "one of the chief attractions was the burgeoning pleasure quarters packed with teahouses and taverns where womenwho a century later would become known as geishasold tea or sake and might, for a consideration, entertain [them] with singing, dancing, or more, depending on the depth of [their] purse," (86). Unfortunately, warfare and upheaval broke out in Japan for more than four hundred years which caused dramatic change throughout the country since the pleasureloving Heian aristocrats. The Japanese Renaissance began after war ended and Japan had been unified. To prevent more civil war, Japan took measures to isolate herself from the rest of the world. Foreigners were not allowed in and Japanese were not allowed out. Because of this isolation, Japan has a unique culture and lifestyle. In Japanese heirarchy the levels proceed from highest to lowest: daimyo, samurai, farmers, artisans, tradesmen, popular entertainers, beggers. It was from the

popular entertainer group that the geisha were to emerge. To controll prostitution, the government allowed prostitution in a walled city but prevented it everywhere else. This place was known as the pleasure quarters and they are where geishas stayed. As long as a man did his duty by his wife (meaning financially supported her and produced a heir), he could "amuse himself in any way he pleased," (Downer 103). Izumo no Okuni and her troupe of wandering female entertainers, in silk kimonos, drew much attention and it was from her and her dancing that the geisha "with their irresistable combination of charm, entertainment, and eroticism," (Downer 105) were to develop. While the origins of geishas occured almost a thousand years ago, "centuries later when the first geisha appeared, they claimed the beautiful and spirited dancer as their ancestor."(Downer 65). For men, the pleasure house was a twisted world in where courtesans and prostitutes could play queens and merchants - kings. The samurai were dismissed as 'bumpkins'. The woman there were virtual slaves though, because they were brought to the quarter as small children and knew nothing else. Zegen would go around to find suitable children and then bind a contract for about ten years. Girls who were sold to the pleasure quarters "were considered virtuous and admirable for having sacrificed themselves for their family," (129). For parents, sending their children to the pleasure quarters gave them money and one less mouth to feed. In the parent's eyes, they were giving their daughter a chance in life out of

poverty. Children were brought in at the age of six or seven, ate white rice, learned the elegant style of the house and wore beautiful kimonos. Additionally, each house had it's own special dialect so that if a child escaped, they could easily be recognized and sent back. Mizuage was the important ritual deflowerment in which a patron paid for the girl's virginity. Geishas painted their faces white, wore their hair in coils and intricate styles, wore stunning silk kimonos and had to learn the art of intriguing a man through conversation, pouring tea and dance. Japan is rich in unique history and culture because of it's isolation from the rest of the world. Developing from the city of Kyoto, geisha "modeled the dreams which they sold on the romantic culture of the Heian princes," (1) to men who would come centuries later. "Being plucky as well as beautifulcharacteristics which would come to distinguish the geisha too" (Downer 66) allowed geisha to intrigue all different classes of men to pleasure houses. Traditional dance and clothing are still to this day practiced and preserved by geisha and provide much insight into the history, culture and art of Japan.