The "Geisha"

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the everyday life of a Japanese Geisha, their role in society, their place, their relation to art (music, poetry, dancing), to culture and tradition, to prostitution and to Japanese wives as portrayed in the book by Liza Galby. Geishas are said to be one of the defining elements of Japanese society.

From the Paper:

"Without even attempting to cover the personality of geishas and their role, a few nouns are likely to help in defining geishas, both as a concept and as persons. First of all, we may state the fact that geishas are performers. Their role is to entertain at private parties, often for exorbitant sums of money. In Kyoto, in the traditional geisha neighborhood, filled with lots of restaurants and private houses, one can often see in the streets (especially after eight or nine in the evening), geishas can be seen walking around the street in their tight, exquisite kimonos and lavishly done hairstyles, entering the restaurants where they are appointed. Dancing, singing and reciting, alongside witty and smart conversation are some of the trades that geishas are taught ever since the beginning of their lives in the geisha schools. Notoriously, one of the most famous geishas of all time, Sada Yakko, who lived in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, went on to become a remarkable actress, with tours that astounded the Western world at the beginning of the 20th century. Reputably, her conversation would stand the test of any of the potentates of those times. "

More papers on The "Geisha":

• Essay # 1876 : "The Culture and Decline of the Geisha"
• Research Paper # 92232 : "Cultural Ethnography of the Japanese Geisha"
• Descriptive Essay # 114793 : "Geisha from Japan"

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