Japanese Geisha Stereotypes

The geisha’s first appearance was during the Edo Period in the 1600’s, and they were men. These geisha were a type of performer called Taikomocho. This is due

Lian Hearn’s 2002 “Across the nightingale floor” is set in feudal japan 1800 and displays the warrior culture and traditional artworks, it shows the context of rank and class within japan at that time with the importance of birth ranks and resistance for change in system within the culture. The context of the book shows the values of japan’s feudal era and the social hierarchy. A hierarchy of which people of higher social status were called lords and ladies and those of lower status being sent into servitude.

The Diary of Lady Nijo during the 13th and 14th centuries of early tradition Japan provides a primary account of what life was like for a female from the time 1271 to 1306. Lady Nijo’s life is one of sadness and suffering. As the daughter of Masatada Koga, Lady Nijo gives us a personal account of how women in court life had to conduct themselves and highlights the conduct between female and male in early traditional Japan. After losing her mother at age two and her father at fifteen, she is raised under the Retired Emperor Gofukakusa. Lady Nijo is powerless at times to the wills and wants of those in the court family. Her role as a woman during the time period shows the reader just how arduous life was for a female during the time period. Lady Nijo had a certain role she had to conform to because of the circumstances she endured. Lady Nijo’s relationship with not only the retired Emperor, Gofukakusa, but a high court official Akebono, as well as Ariake, Gofukakusa’s half-brother and a Buddhist monk made her appear as more of a pawn. Lady Nijo bears children with all of these men previously mentioned, and as her life

Throughout the book, Reid explores the very ideals and concepts of Confucianism and its relation to the Japanese society in which he encounters. His encounters bring a greater understanding of the Japanese culture and its relationship to the culture of more western nations. The book explains the ideals of respect, responsibility, and family dynamics within the Japanese culture, and their effects on Asian life.

2. Women in Classical Japan Japan’s classical age came much later than Greece’s – the early Japanese classical age includes the 8th and 9th centuries CE – and women played a greater role in administering everyday life. The toji took on duties including managing agricultutral enterprises and supervisiong labor (Akiko 437). They did not act on their husbands’ behalf, either; the toji were part of a tradition in Japan that saw women act as chieftains and consorts to the sovereign (Akiko 438). Classical Japan also considered both parents’ lineage when assessing people’s heritage, similarly to the way in which ancient Athens determined babies’ citizenship status (Scott 38; Akiko 439).

They sing, dance, and are well trained in the many arts such as the art of conversation. A geisha during the feudal era of Japanwas first taken in by a geisha house, and trained as an apprentice geisha. They would be trained on how to act properly, and the many skills of her job such as classical dances that she must perform without flaw, to sing classic songs, and to play stringed instruments such as the koto or shamisen. She was also taught calligraphy, jokes, tea ceremonies, how to serve sake, and most importantly she was taught how to converse with men. A geisha was typically hired as a companion to spend time with a gentleman or group of gentleman. She was taught to treat them like kings during their time spent together. A geisha, unlike other women, was not allowed to

The comic presented illustrates the transformation regarding gender relations from the Tokugawa to the Meiji period in Japan. During the Tokugawa period, women were either married or worked in prostitution, as they were not given many job opportunities as men. Amy Stanley has in her introduction to “Selling Women” mentioned many occupations men had during the Tokugawa, ranging from samurai, government officials, sailors, and even travelers.1 Women at the time were expected to care for their family, more importantly their husband’s family, and going into prostitution was seen as a duty of filial piety. A woman that was selfless and obedient to her husband and family was thought highly of in Japanese society, as written in Kaibara’s “Onna Daigaku”.2 The book shows unjust rules and restrictions regarding husbands and wives, specifically the various reasons a man can divorce a woman.3 While prostitution was seen as a woman making

The Tale of Genji is a work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki, Shibiku in the early 11th century CE. Many scholars and critics consider it to be the first great novel, though some insist that the term “novel” is not fitting due to its origins in western culture.(Murasaki 15) The author’s actual name went unrecorded, which was not uncommon for women of the upper-class during the Heian period. The name Murasaki, Shibiku is more of a nickname or pseudonym than anything else; “Shibuku” meaning “master of ceremonies” refers to a post once held by her father and “Murasaki” is the word for a type of flower used to make herbal medicine and dyes. “Lady Murasaki” is also the name of her book, The Tale of Genji’s main heroine. Some scholars believe that she may have been Fujiwara Takako based on records from the Imperial Court under which she served.

Women during the Tokugawa period were expected to be good Confucian wives and were restricted in many aspects of their life. Although multiple expectations were bent in real life situations. In Onna Daigaku, Kaibara Ekiken writes on how a woman should and should not act in public. He also writes several different reasons why a woman should be divorced. This primary source is important in understanding what was expected out of women during this period and helps us apply it to other readings.

The word Geisha translates in English as Performing artist or artisan which is a high class professional female entertainer in Japan. Becoming a Geisha is done in stages. If a girl begins her training before the age of 21 she is called a maiko which means child dancer. The full fledged Geisha is refered to as geiko, these women are skilled in performing, classical Japanese music, dance, games, and conversation so that they can entertain

The first stage of training is called the Maiko stage. The Maiko is under the level of Geisha, it is often regarded as the beginner level. They are also known as apprentice Geisha. Their jobs mainly consist of taking care of the needs of the Geisha, performing songs, dances and playing a Koto which is one of the traditional Japanese instrument mainly for visitors during their feasts. They

(Lester, 2003) Therefore the huge responsibility as filmmakers, creative creators or even as a friend, being socially ethical and choosing the right words and imagery can make a difference in the otherwise stereotypical world we live in today and to educate the future generation of not repeating the same mistakes. However as easy as it may sound, the challenge of changing someone’s ideology is never going to be easy but if it doesn’t start now, then when? In conclusion, Memoirs of Geisha tries to recreate the history as realistic as possible but despite the effort of the creative individuals, it still contains a great deal of negative stereotypes and misrepresentations of the women in the past and the whole subtle lingering idea of the West being the strong and East as the weakling.

So it could be said one significant factor in Japanese culture is idealization, and Geisha is a component of this fantasy. They are pulled out from themselves as women and then become an illusory form. When Sayuri wears the twelve layers of elegant kimonos with exquisite makeup, stepped on those expensive black wooden clogs,

It is no secret that for centuries, the Japanese woman has been, to most observers, a model of elegance and graceful beauty. A picture of a kimono-clad, modest, and often silent woman has been plastered everywhere, allowing for the upmost passive subjection. If we look deeper into this image of woman, can we tell if this picture is complete? How do these women painted in representative images far in the modern world? The ideal woman in Japan is expected to be both a good wife, and a wise mother. Though these seem like reasonable expectations, there is a much deeper meaning to them that has shown signs of being outdated. During the 1800’s and 1900’s, women were subjected to society’s vision of them, and could not break free for fear of the

Perhaps one of the most pressing issues of the century, objectification of the female gender is a world-wide phenomena. While sometimes referenced of as a fading issue, women’s rights, or the lack thereof, is still prevalent across many regions of the planet. Often times denied even the simplest forms of human rights, women have always been forced to take the least dominant path within society, and are frequently expected to be weaker than men. However, potentially no example of female objectification is more apparent than the lives of women today, as well as various Japanese Geisha in the early 1900’s; specifically in the novel Memoirs of A Geisha, by Arthur Golden. Set in the early years before World War 1, it was within the lives of these Geisha that objectification was not only displayed, but was exemplified. Outrightly told to listen to men, apply cosmetics, and act with reservation within society, similarities between both old-world Geishas and modern day women are easily correlated.