What is an oiran?
Oiran is the collective name for the high end prostitute in 3 to 4 hundred years ago. They had a class system and each class had its name. Thus the top class prostitutes were Oiran.
What is an oiran in Demon Slayer?
An Oiran in Demon Slayer is recognized all over the Yoshiwara District for her beauty. However, an Oiran also flaunts incredible skills and knowledge about different traditions besides her looks. And that’s what puts an Oiran over other Courtesans.
How do you call an oiran in Japanese?
To call an oiran, the customer must use a tea house, chaya, (茶屋) as a mediator. When an oiran were called for service, she would walk with her kamuro (禿) and shinzou (新造). Did teenagers (13-17) take advantage of slaves/the help often sexually in the olden days?
How many ranks of oiran are there?
A Yoshiwara guidebook published in 1792 listed the six extant ranks of oiran, including tayū and kōshi, who had, by the time of the guidebook's publication, been dormant, with no courtesans in these roles in Yoshiwara, for 30 years:
What is the meaning of oiran?
Oiran (花魁) was a specific category of high ranking courtesan in Japanese history. Divided into a number of ranks within this category, oiran were considered – both in social terms and in the entertainment they provided – to be above common prostitutes, known as yūjo (遊女, lit. 'woman of pleasure').
What is the difference between geisha and oiran?
The geisha was considered as lower-class entertainment before the oiran profession declined. Oiran prestige was based on their beauty, character, education, artistic talents, and overall reputation. The oiran did not use their real identities but rather used names that reference poetry, nature, and literature.
How old is an oiran?
Kamuro (禿) were girls that did every day chores for the oiran. The girls were around 10 years old.
What is oiran walk?
Oiran Dochu is a procession-reenactment of processions done by the oiran, the courtesans of Yoshiwara in Edo Period, with a purpose to advertise the houses they worked in. The reenactment involves men and women dressed up in Edo period costumes.
Do oiran still exist?
There are no oiran left in modern Japan since prostitution is illegal now. There are some borderline almost prostitution businesses around, but the women who work in them are not called oiran or yuujo.
Why do geishas sell their virginity?
Geisha are not prostitutes, in the past, the right to take the virginity of a Geisha (mizuage) was sold by the Geisha house. In reality, it was more a sponsorship for the Maiko's training, which was really expensive. Only the very wealthy could pay for this right.
What rank is oiran?
Oiran (花魁) An oiran refers to a high-ranking courtesan in the pleasure quarter of Yoshiwara. Around the mid-18th century, senior courtesans were addressed as "oiran" by their underlings such as kamuro or shinzo. Then "oiran" became the word used to refer to a high- ranking courtesan in Yoshiwara.
What did oiran wear?
CLOTHING. Oiran wears layers of kimono that is purely made out of silk and unlike the kimono that the Geisha wear, they wear loud and bold colors to attract customers. The tayū would wear 5 layers of silk kimono and total weight can be up to 20 kilos.
Who was the most famous oiran?
Takao II (高尾, 1640 – December 5, 1659), also known as Sendai Takao or Manji Takao, was a tayū (high-ranking courtesan) of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters of Edo, and one of the most famous courtesans of Japan's Edo period (1603-1867).
Do geisha still exist?
Modern geisha mostly still live in okiya they are affiliated with, particularly during their apprenticeship, and are legally required to be registered to one, though they may not live there every day.
Is Daki an oiran?
As an oiran, Daki was extremely cruel and wicked, pulling on a young girl's ear because she didn't clean up her room and punching Zenitsu Agatsuma into the other room for merely touching her.
Are there male geisha?
Historically, geisha are entertainers who perform various arts like classical music, dancing and games. But in fact the original geisha were men. They were male advisors and entertainers to their daimyo (feudal lords), dating back to the 1200s. They were also tea connoisseurs, artists and gifted storytellers.
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Why is Oiran called Oiran?
There are various theories as to why they came to be called Oiran, but the strong theory is that it came from the fact the apprentice prostitutes called the prostitute as “おいらの姉さん (oira no nēsan).”
What happens after calling Oiran?
After calling a familiar Oiran, the guest drinks alcohol or enjoys the Geisha’s work until she comes . Oiran picks up the customer at the Ageya and returns to her Girou (妓楼), a place where she will play with the guest. This welcoming journey is the Oiran Dochu.
What is the name of the costume of Oiran Dochu?
This welcoming journey is the Oiran Dochu. One of the characteristic costumes of Oiran performing Oiran Dochu is the black-painted geta with three-heels. The way to walk wearing these high geta is called “Hachimonji (八文字).”.
Why is Oiran ranked higher in Geisha and Oiran?
In Geisha and Oiran, Oiran was ranked higher. This may be because Geisha entertained customers while they were waiting for Oiran. Nowadays, the occupation of Oiran is gone.
When is the Oiran Dochu festival?
This event is held on the second Saturday of April each year and is mainly performed by local people from Yoshiwara.
Is Oiran a beautiful place?
Conclusion. Oiran seems to be a gorgeous existence, but it is said that they needed to make hard work and efforts. When you wear the costume, you may be surprised at the weight and difficulty of movement. Please try to experience the world of Oiran, where you can feel the glitz of Japan and the hardships of those days.
Is Oiran the same as Geisha?
Many people may think Oiran is almost the same as Geisha because they both are women dressed in kimonos. However, unlike the Geisha and Maiko that still exist today, Oiran is now gone. Still, there are spots where you can experience Oiran, and there is also an event called “Oiran Dochu” that recreates the situation at the time.
1. Oiran (花魁) are the highest ranked sex workers in the Yoshiwara yuukaku (吉原遊廓)
Yoshiwara is an area that is now known to be near Nihonbashi (日本橋). Yuukaku was the government-confirmed block for sex workers. Among all the sex workers there, the oiran was the highest ranked sex worker.
2. The word oiran comes from shortening the sentence "Oira no tokoro no nee-san" (おいらの所の姉さん)
There are other theories on the origin of the word oiran, but one theory comes from the sentence above said by the girls working for the oiran. It roughly translates to "the older sisters of our place." Eventually, the word became fixed to refer to the highest ranked sex workers in Yoshiwara yuukaku.
3. Oiran worked at the Yoshiwara yuukaku, but did not sit in a harimise (張り見世)
A harimise is a type of brothel where the sex workers would line up behind bars, as shown in the image above. Customers would choose which sex worker, or yuujyo, (遊女) they want. Oiran did not work here. So how do you receive the services of the oiran?
4. To call an oiran, the customer must use a tea house, chaya, (茶屋) as a mediator
And not just only ask the tea house, they had to spend a lot of money there beforehand. They had to prove that they had enough money and power to play with the oiran. Then, they had the right to call for an oiran.
5. When an oiran was called for service, she would walk with her kamuro (禿) and shinzou (新造)
This was called an oiran douchuu (花魁道中). Douchuu means along the way. Oiran would wear a particular outfit and hairstyle (which I will talk about in detail afterwards) with her kamuro and shinzou (which I will also refer to in detail afterwards) that took care of her.
6. To receive the service of the oiran, the customer had to meet her at least 3 times
First, the oiran would sit far away from the customer, and did not eat, drink or talk with him. At this time, the Oiran would decide the customer was worthy of her service. The customer will call a lot of other yuujyo and partied hard to show their wealth.
7. For the second meeting, the oiran would sit a little closer to the customer
And that's it. The procedure would be the same as the first time. The oiran did not eat, drink, or talk with him. The customer would call other yuujyo, party hard and again display his power and wealth.
What is Oiran in Quora?
Oiran (花魁) was a name given to a prostitute who was very popular and highly regarded, mostly for her beauty, in the brothels of Yoshiwara in Edo (Tokyo).
Is there a oiran left in Japan?
An oiran was like the pinup girl of Edo—many of the bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) that exist as woodcut prints are of oiran. There are no oiran left in modern Japan since prostitution is illegal now.
What is prestige in Oiran?
Oiran prestige was based on their beauty, character, education, artistic talents, and overall reputation. The oiran did not use their real identities but rather used names that reference poetry, nature, and literature. These names can be inherited by another oiran by being promoted.
What age did the oiran have helpers?
The oiran had helpers called “kamuro” who were girls around the age of 10. The kamuro would do everyday chores for the oiran, and would in turn, receive training and education. Oirans would usually start as kamuro then become a shinzou as they get older, but not all shinzou can become an oiran.
What is the term for courtesans?
Oiran is a term for courtesans in general. The oiran profession vanished around the Edo period, as the geisha profession (not providing any sexual service) became more successful and profitable. During the Edo period, it was more fashionable to please the mind with art, rather than the body with mundane activities.
What were the courtesans called in Edo?
During the Edo Period, there were courtesans working arm-in-arm with geisha at the same entertainment districts. They were called Tayū ( 太夫 ) and Oiran ( 花魁 ). Tayu was the high-ranked courtesans, dressed in amazingly flashy kimonos and wearing heavy hairstyles.
Do the oiran have to pay for upkeep?
Oiran would also have to pay upkeep to maintain their looks. The oiran were high-ranking sex workers so their clients would normally be the nobility and the rich and powerful. Meeting with an oiran is not for the regular peasant. The oiran had helpers called “kamuro” who were girls around the age of 10.
