An oiran preparing herself for a client, ukiyo-e print by Suzuki Haronubu (1765).

Oiran (花魁, Oiran^?) were high-class courtesans in Japan. The word "oiran" consists of two kanji, 花 meaning "flower", and 魁 meaning "leader" or "first." Cultural aspects of oiran traditions continue to be preserved to this day. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... View of Mount Fuji from Numazu, part of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō series by Hiroshige, published 1850 Ukiyo-e ), pictures of the floating world, is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of... A courtesan is a person paid and/or supported for the giving of social companionship and intimate liaisons to one or more partners. ... Japanese writing Kanji Kana Hiragana Katakana Hentaigana Manyōgana Uses Furigana Okurigana Rōmaji   ) are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with hiragana (平仮名), katakana (片仮名), and the Arabic numerals. ...

The oiran arose in the Edo period, 1600 - 1868. At this time, laws were passed restricting brothels to walled districts set some distance from the city center. In the major cities these were the Shimabara in Kyoto, the Shimmachi in Osaka, and in Edo (present-day Tokyo), the Yoshiwara. These rapidly grew into large, self-contained "Pleasure Quarters" offering all manner of entertainments. Within, a courtesan's birth rank held no distinction but there arose a strict hierarchy according to beauty, character, educational attainments and artistic skills. Among the oiran, the tayū (太夫 or 大夫, tayū^?) was considered the highest rank of courtesan or prostitute, and were considered suitable for the daimyo. Only the wealthiest and highest ranking could hope to patronise them. The Edo period ), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. ... For other uses, see Kyoto (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Osaka (disambiguation). ... Edo (Japanese: , literally: bay-door, estuary, pronounced //), once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo. ... Prostitutes on display in Yoshiwara during the Edo Period This movie set in Kyoto recreates the appearance of a red-light district such as Yoshiwara. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ...

To entertain their clients, oiran practiced the arts of dance, music, poetry and calligraphy, and an educated wit was considered essential to sophisticated conversation.

The isolation within the closed districts resulted in the oiran becoming highly ritualised in many ways and increasingly removed from the changing society. Strict etiquette ruled the standards of appropriate behavior. Their speech preserved the formal court standards rather than the common language. A casual visitor would not be accepted; their clients would summon them with a formal invitation, and the oiran would pass through the streets in a formal procession with a retinue of servants. The costumes worn became more and more ornate and complex, culminating in a style with eight or more pins and combs in the hair, and many prescribed layers of highly ornamented garments derived from those of the earliest oiran from the early Edo period. Similarly, the entertainments offered also were derived from those of the original oiran generations before. Ultimately, the culture of the tayu grew increasingly rarefied and remote from everyday life, and their clients dwindled.

The rise of the geisha ended the era of the oiran. Geisha practiced the common entertainments enjoyed by the people of that time, and were much more accessible to the casual visitor. Their popularity grew rapidly and eclipsed that of the oiran. The last recorded oiran was in 1761. The few remaining women still currently practicing the arts of the oiran (without the sexual aspect) do so as a preservation of cultural heritage rather than as a profession or lifestyle. Typical nape make-up Geisha ) or Geigi ) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. ...

Courtesan Parade

The Bunsui Sakura Matsuri Oiran Dōchū is a free event held in Tsubame, Niigata. Dōchū is a shortened form of oiran-dochu, also the name for the walk the top courtesans made around the quarter, or the parade they made to escort their guests. This parade features three oiran in full regalia — Shinano, Sakura, and Bunsui — among the cherry blossoms in April with approximately 70 accompanying servants. Each oiran in 15-cm tall geta sandals parades in the distinctive gait, giving the parade an alternate name, the Dream Parade of Echigo (Echigo no yume-dochu). The event is extremely popular across the country, with many people from all over Japan applying for the three oiran and servant roles of the parade. Tsubame (燕市; -shi) is a city located in Niigata, Japan. ...

In popular culture

• In the Firefly universe created by Joss Whedon, the merging of Asian and Western cultures lead to the creation of the 'Companion' caste, which bears a strong resemblance to both the oiran and to the hetaera.
• In the TV miniseries Shogun, John Blackthorne (Anjin-San) is presented with an oiran as a reward for his faithful service to Lord Toranaga.
• The video game character Setsuka from Soul Calibur III is an amalgamation of an oiran and the Queen of Hearts.
• An oiran was depicted in the movie Sakuran (2007), starring Anna Tsuchiya.
• In the manga and anime series Rurouni Kenshin, a former oiran named Yumi was the lover of one of the primary antagonists, Shishio.
• Also, in the manga and anime series Peacemaker Kurogane, if not working as a shinobi for the Choshu, Akesato is a high-class oiran in the Shimabara district.

Firefly is an American science fiction television series created by writer/director Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, under his Mutant Enemy Productions. ... Joss Hill Whedon (born Joseph Hill Whedon[3] on June 23, 1964 in New York) is an Academy Award-nominated American writer, director, executive producer, and creator of the well-known television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. ... In ancient Greece, hetaerae (in Greek , hetairai) were courtesans, that is to say, sophisticated companions and prostitutes. ... This page is about the TV miniseries. ... Computer and video games redirects here. ... Setsuka ) is a fictional character designed for the Soul Series of fighting games. ... Soul Calibur III ) is the sequel to Soul Calibur II and is the fourth overall installment in the Soul series of fighting games. ... Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show, as the Queen of Hearts The Queen of Hearts is a character from the book Alices Adventures in Wonderland by the mathematician Lewis Carroll. ... Sakuran is a manga series created by Moyoco Anno. ... Anna Tsuchiya , born March 11, 1984 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, model, and actress. ... Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Shonen Jump Original run September 2, 1994 – November 4, 1999 Volumes 28 TV anime Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi Studio Studio Gallop (episodes 1-66), Studio Deen (episodes 66 onwards), SPE Visual Works Licensor SPE Visual Works AnimeWorks Network Fuji Television, Animax Original run January 10, 1996... Shishio Makoto This article or section needs to be wikified. ... Peacemaker Kurogane ) is a historical fiction manga and anime series created by mangaka Nanae Chrono ). The story begins in 19th century Japan before the Meiji Restoration, while the seeds of the revolution are being planted. ... Shimabara can mean any of the following: The city of Shimabara in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan The district of Shimabara, an entertainment quarter in Kyoto, Japan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

See also

• Sing-song girls
• Geisha
• Prostitution in Japan

Sing Song Girls is an English term derived from westerners in China during the early 19th century. ... Typical nape make-up Geisha ) or Geigi ) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. ... Prostitution in Japan has a long and varied history. ...

External links

• Tayu no Dochu
• Niigata Prefecture Bunsui Sakura Festival Oiran Parade