Geisha: then and now. Part 1. Taikomochi

Mask on the face, lower eyelashes, slight smile, inaudible gait, bright clothes. She is a mystery woman. She attracts people's attention. This is a Geisha.

Everyone has heard about geishas, many watched the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" based on the book of the same name written by Arthur Golden. But do you know their history and modernity?

The first mention of geisha refers to the XIV-XV centuries and first in the role of geisha were... men.

People called them taikomochi or hōkan. Before we go into history, let's see what these concepts mean.

Taikomochi's or Hōkan's task was to entertain people, helping them to communicate with each other.

There is a version that the first Hōkan was Sorori Shinzaemon - adviser to the emperor Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi wasn't able to write and he could hardly read. So he needed a special person. Sorori Shinzaemon was a connoisseur of the tea ceremony, knew the art of calligraphy and has sharp tongue. He entertained the emperor, who always had a bad mood. In European culture, Sorori would be called a jester. He wrote several books with jocular stories. Some of them he wrote by himself, but some recorded on memories from childhood. Thanks to him - a person entertaining his emperor and his guests, samurai and officials have a new fashion - to have their own jester. And those who could not have a jester invited free artists from the Kabuki Theater who came with their drums - "taiko".

In spite of the fact that they had to joke in the main, they required knowledge of calligraphy, tea ceremonies. That's why people began to call them "geisha" - "art person".

According to various sources there was about 500-800 Taikomochi. Soon women began to appear in the profession. They attracted men by dancing and by their beauty. And men became organizers of such parties.

According to another version there was a Buddhist school Ji-shū based in 1239 by the monk Ippen Shōnin. In this monastery, the Buddha's dance prayer was invented. Many advisers of wealthy officials have completed this school. They gave advice and entertained their master, were connoisseurs of the tea ceremony, performed dances and played musical instruments. When the time of peace came, these advisers lost their jobs. But these guys immediately found a way out. They got a job in expensive brothels, where courtesans served rich masters. They told the masters erotic stories, anecdotes, gave advice on trade.

Taikomochi entertain guests so that each of them can get away from everyday cares and give himself up to fun. At the heart of the traditional repertoire is a number of cultural features of Japan, which have gone a long way of development and turned into the art of entertainment.