Geishas are often confused with courtesans, actresses. Geisha combine all the qualities of a female nature, thanks to which the man next to them feels sublime and inspired.
The Importance of Geisha in Japanese Culture
Literally from Japanese geisha it is translated as “a man of art”, as it consists of two characters, one of which means the word “man”, the other - “art”. One can already guess from the etymology of the word that geisha are not Japanese courtesans. For the latter, in the Japanese language there are separate words - jero, yujo.
Geishas perfectly mastered the art of being a woman. They lifted the spirit of men, creating an atmosphere of joy, ease and emancipation. They achieved this thanks to songs, dances, jokes (often with erotic overtones), a tea ceremony, which were shown by geisha in men's companies along with a relaxed conversation.
Geishas entertained men both at social events and on personal dates. At a tête-à-tête meeting, there was also no room for intimate relationships. A geisha can engage in sex with his patron, who robbed her of her virginity. For geishas, this is a ritual called mizu-age, which accompanies the transition from a student, maiko, to a geisha.
If a geisha gets married, then she is obliged to leave the profession. Before leaving, she sends her clients, patron, and teachers boxes of refreshments - boiled rice, informing them of the breakdown in communication with them.
Outwardly, geisha are distinguished by characteristic make-up with a thick layer of powder and bright red lips, which make the woman's face look like a mask, as well as an old tall, luxuriant hairstyle. Traditional geisha clothing is kimono, the main colors of which are black, red and white.
