A little bit about Oiran (花魁)
(For pics, try visiting the links at the bottom)
What they did
Oiran were a type of courtesan that arose around the 1600s, and tended to cater to people in the higher classes of society - even up to daimyo! They entertained their customers in a variety of ways including refined arts such as calligraphy, poetry, dancing and singing of various kinds of verses. Furthermore they also played musical instruments like the shamisen. To be an oiran you had to know these things before you applied; there was no real training period.
Unlike the more well-known geisha, however, they also offered sexual services as part of the deal. They also differed in being extremely formal in both speech and action, and lived very restricted lives, to the point of being unable to leave their workplace while they were oiran.
Their clothing and way of walking
Another thing that obviously differentiated oiran was their numerous layers of ornate clothing and their many elaborate decorations. And it was heavy - according to Tsukasa-tayuu's site, the head ornaments + hairstyle alone could come up to 3 kg, while the kimono etc. could be from 20 to 30 kg! They even had particular ways of walking due to their unusually high triple-support geta (clog sort of footwear) also known as mitsu-ashi, that could weigh up to 2 kg.
You can notice Kotoha's deliberate way of walking in episode 3, during the periodic douchuu (道中), a procession of the various oiran. Do look at the youtube vid at the bottom too. Interestingly, though, they did indeed go around without tabi (sort of socks), even in winter.
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This occupation, however, began dying out in the 1700s as the oiran became more and more removed from normal, everyday life, and remained relevant to fewer and fewer people. Instead there was the rise of the geisha, whose entertaining was much more easy to enjoy and was more widely appreciated.
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Links to follow if you would like to know more about them:
Tayu no Dochu - lots of pictures of oiran!
Wikipedia article on Oiran
The Oiran - a page with depictions of oiran and a bit of comparison between them and geisha.
Japundit - Oiran vs. Geisha
FAQ on Maiko, Geisha and Oiran at Immortal Geisha
Tsukasa-tayuu's website (Japanese) - the website of a modern-day "tayuu" in Shimabara, Kyoto.
Video of an oiran walking at Youtube - Short, but very fascinating! Compare with Kotoha's walking.
(For pics, try visiting the links at the bottom)
What they did
Oiran were a type of courtesan that arose around the 1600s, and tended to cater to people in the higher classes of society - even up to daimyo! They entertained their customers in a variety of ways including refined arts such as calligraphy, poetry, dancing and singing of various kinds of verses. Furthermore they also played musical instruments like the shamisen. To be an oiran you had to know these things before you applied; there was no real training period.
Unlike the more well-known geisha, however, they also offered sexual services as part of the deal. They also differed in being extremely formal in both speech and action, and lived very restricted lives, to the point of being unable to leave their workplace while they were oiran.
Their clothing and way of walking
Another thing that obviously differentiated oiran was their numerous layers of ornate clothing and their many elaborate decorations. And it was heavy - according to Tsukasa-tayuu's site, the head ornaments + hairstyle alone could come up to 3 kg, while the kimono etc. could be from 20 to 30 kg! They even had particular ways of walking due to their unusually high triple-support geta (clog sort of footwear) also known as mitsu-ashi, that could weigh up to 2 kg.
You can notice Kotoha's deliberate way of walking in episode 3, during the periodic douchuu (道中), a procession of the various oiran. Do look at the youtube vid at the bottom too. Interestingly, though, they did indeed go around without tabi (sort of socks), even in winter.
---
This occupation, however, began dying out in the 1700s as the oiran became more and more removed from normal, everyday life, and remained relevant to fewer and fewer people. Instead there was the rise of the geisha, whose entertaining was much more easy to enjoy and was more widely appreciated.
---
Links to follow if you would like to know more about them:
Tayu no Dochu - lots of pictures of oiran!
Wikipedia article on Oiran
The Oiran - a page with depictions of oiran and a bit of comparison between them and geisha.
Japundit - Oiran vs. Geisha
FAQ on Maiko, Geisha and Oiran at Immortal Geisha
Tsukasa-tayuu's website (Japanese) - the website of a modern-day "tayuu" in Shimabara, Kyoto.
Video of an oiran walking at Youtube - Short, but very fascinating! Compare with Kotoha's walking.
