Step into the Geisha world, a captivating culture filled with art, tradition, and a tinge of mystery. Geisha women are the custodians of a living Japan where every word, every movement, and indeed every silence is laden with meaning.
But do you ask yourself frequently – what precisely does a Geisha do? And what’s the fascination with these brilliant women?
Contents
Who is a Geisha?
The very term defines it well, “Geisha” stands for proud arts practitioners who entertain the Japanese with their grace, beauty, and skills, showcasing a traditional aspect of the Japanese. Their personage embodies simple and attractive art blending into one another.
What Do Geishas Do?
With the shine of her irresistibly red lips accentuated by a white face and neat hair, one can Geisha through a stunning handwoven kimono. And those transcending visuals protect her role as a woman of class and poise.
So, what do Geishas do? They are custodians of culture and legacy and find engagement at cultural gatherings such as tea houses. Their presence adds flavor and enthusiasm where melancholy resides. They employ entertainment with their proficiency in music, dance, gaming, and presentation.
The performance of a geisha is a sight to behold. With geisha, one can hear the sounds of the shamisen along with dancing which shows the years of practice they have undergone. But they do not just take on the performance side; talking to the guests is also very important since they want everyone to feel satisfied and comfortable. In a nutshell, a geisha is there to make sure a good time is had by all.
Types of Geishas
There are a couple of main categories into which geishas fall – maikos, and geikos.
1. Maikos
Maikos are teenage girls who would be aged approximately 15 to 20 around the time when they are in training to become a geisha. These maiko girls are trained to be skilled geishas and have beautifully styled hair and exceptional outfits. For that, they learn the arts of tea ceremonies and dances and go through intensive training. It is this training that fosters hard work and absolute geisha mastery in them.
2. Geikos
Geikos refers to the skilled geishas who reside in Kyoto, which is pronounced as geiko in the eastern part of Japan. These geishas have completed their training and education so they obviously become professionals. They are known to have transformed skills and radiate elegance. Geikos are able to wow their audience due to their dancing, music playing, and casual conversations they have during the performance.
What is the Workspace of a Geisha?
A Geisha operates in certain areas known as Hanamachi
that translates to flower districts
. They reside in what is referred to as a Geisha home that is known as Okiya. It is these districts’ tea houses, called Ochaya that work as the workload for them.
Many people misperceive these places to be places that are meant for having fun, but this is a misconception. Rather they are sophisticated places where clients are entertained by the beautiful performing arts of geishas.
How To Work As A Geisha
The life of a Geisha can be said to be quite challenging with a lot of effort needed to put in. It begins at age fifteen and is called the “Maiko” Path. A girl wanting to be a Geisha starts by living and training at an Okiya, which is a Geisha boarding house for several years.
Training is tough, highly disciplined, and consists of skills such as music, dance, and tea making. In addition to this, Maikos are trained in ways to learn to socialize and have fun-filled conversations. Moreover, She learns how to walk and present herself in a subtle manner which is an essential feature of being a Geisha. Finally, after several years of intense training, she then turns into a complete Geisha, who goes by the name ‘Geiko’.
FAQs
Are Geisha allowed to have families?
Yes, while Geisha can marry, there comes the condition of retiring from their work. After marriage, their main roles become household management and taking care of children, rather than being involved in performing arts and participating in social gatherings.
Are the Japanese people appreciative of Geisha?
Yes, the Japanese people have great regard for the Geisha. To them, Geisha is a skilled artist, contributing to the preservation of Japanese culture.
Dermal concealment is extreme fashion – why do Geisha do it?
Don’t Geisha hide their face? In fact, they do not hide their face at all. The snow white makeup that they don as part of the tradition was simply because the culture regarding Geisha was that they always performed in dark light situations. The idea was not one that was intended to make them look like a doll but one that was aimed to create appreciation for the art itself.
There was a lot of speculation surrounding the lifestyle of Geisha, particularly sleeping habits –
How do they manage to achieve the perfect bangs?
A Geisha sleeps in a similar manner to the average person just with a cosset to maintain her hmm… hairdo.
In current times, do Geisha exist? Geisha do still exist, they are particularly common in regions like Kyoto. They still partake in banquets, festivals, and other events of that sort.
For aspiring Geisha, is there an entry-level age criteria that need to be satisfied?
There isn’t an age requirement for becoming a Geisha but most begin their training sessions around the age of 15.
Conclusion
So there you have it, Geisha culture is largely demystified, they are not just entertainers but rather artists who dedicate their lives to the perpetuation and advancement of the traditional arts of Japan. Their strength stems from the nature of the act itself – it is within the context of ‘mizuage’ that their