Shirabyoshi (who adopted their name from the dance that they performed) appeared at a time when the social structure in Japan was starting to break down. The changing fortunes of many aristocratic families had resulted in the daughters of these families becoming Shirabyoshi in order to survive. These women, who were often highly educated, soon became valued for their dancing and poetic talent. They were supported by many upper class families – including the famous aristocratic families of the Fujiwara and Taira, and in some cases even gave birth to noble children.
The Shirabyoshi were recognizable from the white Shinto-style outfits that they would wear, the playing of the drum and fife, and their dancing abilities. They would also recite ballads that were based on Buddhist prayers introduced from China. The most famous of the Shirabyoshi, who would be remembered many centuries down the track, were Shizuka, the concubine of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189) and Kamagiku, the favourite concubine of the retired ordained Emperor, Gotoba (1189-1239).
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Shirabyoshi (who adopted their name from the dance that they performed) appeared at a time when the social structure in Japan was starting to break down.
The Shirabyoshi were recognizable from the white Shinto-style outfits that they would wear, the playing of the drum and fife, and their dancing abilities.
The development of female geisha, besides the before mentioned Shirabyoshi, was also closely connected to the introduction of the shamisen (originally called jabisen) through the Eiroku era (1557-1570).
Mobile female dancers, shirabyoshi, might have existed a while before the year 749 during the Japanese 'Golden Age' (the Heian era -- click here for everything about it and why it is dubbed 'golden').
It was through shirabyoshi, the greatness of the samurai got trumpeted all over the rest of the nation; something that would be taken up by the Noh drama later, then the kabuki even later, and all sorts of crooning such as the ballad-like joruri.
This is of course not a shirabyoshi, not even female in that matter; he's the most famous kabuki actor Zeami, concubine of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
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