Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

I was stunned by how Memoirs of a Geisha has changed my views on what Geishas really are. In my early years of education, I was influenced by my teachers that geisha's have nothing more similar with an ordinary prostitute, but then, judging by the customs an traditions of the "early 19th century" geisha's they do deserve to be given due respect. Being a true Geisha is not merely an occupation, rather it is a profession that gave more light to the history of Japan. I learned a lot from this book. It would be easier to enumerate them.

1. Geishas have their own customs and traditions which sprang back from the time Japan was not the Japan we have in mind today. From the way they talk, to the way they walk, everything should follow a strict rule in order to fulfill their sole purpose - to entertain, thus bringing more money to the okiya (geisha house) to where they live. Yes, bringing up a Geisha was a big business in Japan in the time the war had not erupted yet.

2. Geisha came from the word "gei" which means "artist" and so every geisha must learn every art which could help her in entertaining when the time comes that she is to be proclaimed a full-fledged geisha. Such arts are in particular to dancing, singing and the art of conversation. Being a good conversationalist and humorist as well can spell success to a geisha. A chance to perform in a Kabuki theatre is one thing a geisha must seek because being chosen as a performer was a measure of being a great geisha.

When I was just a child, I sometimes stumbled upon TV channels which shows dancing women in full white make-up dressed in the most colorfull wardrobe. Back then, I know not a single hint about geishas and so I just asked myself why they do such things. They seemed like robots - only they are more flexible. Now I learned that those women are dancing and that such dances have meanings, I mean, it has a story to tell!

3. Geishas attend a school where they learn the different arts they need to know for entertaining. They attend each and every class until they reach their 20s and until they have mastered all the arts.

4. Geishas sell their mizuage (virginity) to the highest bidder. They are subjected into a bidding competition among the men to whom they offered an ekubo (a special kind of cake which have meaning when given by a geisha to a man).

However, any man can bid even if he was not given an ekubo by the geisha herself. The bidding is undertaken in a teahouse conducted by its mistress. After the bidding and after the price has been settled, the mistress will ring the okiya to tell who won for them to settle when and where the mizuage ceremony will be done.

5. A woman who intends to become a geisha needs an older geisha who would take her as a younger sister. Once the older geisha agreed, a ceremony will be held to bind them as natural sisters. Usually, it is the older sister who seeks for her younger sister because her future depends also to her younger sister. A part of the earnings of the younger sister will go to the older one.

The main reason for this however is for the younger one to be known by the older's clients and t make it easier for her to enter in the geisha world.

Younger sisters usually take a part of the name of her older sister for her to be known by the clients easily. But in the case of Mameha and Sayuri, Mameha was told by the fortune-teller that all the names that can be associated to her for Sayuri give bad omens and so, they chose Sayuri instead.

6. Geishas are very superstitious. In every move that they take, they need to consult their almanac or the fortune-teller so that they can bring about good tidings not only for themselves but also to those people who lives by her earnings.

7. The perception of people around the world about geishas have dramatically and radically changed after the war. That is because after the war, anyone can just dress up just like a geisha to sell her body to men. The registry department have been disordered because of th war and records have been lost - the reason why nowadays, people associated geishas to prostitutes.

I think, these would be all for now. I would add more once i remeber the other things. However, I urge you not to be discouraged by the thickness of the book but think about the wonderful things you could learn from it.

Posted by Nicky Guinto on June 16, 2007 at 01:32 AM in Books in Friendster Blogs