Japanese geisha performances and geisha introduction

Japanese geisha are different from prostitutes. Just from the difference between "geisha" and "prostitute", we know that China intends to distinguish the two professions. So what performances do Japanese geisha perform? How much do you know about geisha? Below is the Japanese geisha performance and geisha introduction I shared, let’s take a look.

Japanese geisha performance and geisha introduction

Holding the three-stringed string in hand, she went up to the painting building and thanked her in a low voice.

In the spring breeze of singing and dancing, there is only joy and no sorrow.

This is a poem from "Japanese Miscellaneous Poems" by Huang Zunxian (1848-1905). As the counselor of He Ruzhang, the Chinese Minister in Japan, Huang Zunxian went to Japan in 1877 and wrote "Japanese National Records" and "Japanese Miscellaneous Poems". He is known as the first person in modern China to have a true understanding of Japan, and Whose research and introduction about Japan has had a really big impact in China? (Zhong Shuhe said). During his stay in Japan, Huang Zunxian did extensive research on various aspects of Japanese politics and history, and also paid attention to Japanese geisha. In this poem titled "Geisha", Huang Zunxian vividly describes the image of Japanese geisha in a few strokes. Huang Zunxian noted in his poem: Singers and dancers in the profession are called geisha. The wine-serving banquet was held in Jinzhuang, and the musical instruments were only Ruan Xian. The music sounded like Sanskrit music, and the strings were plucked with one's teeth. There are also thin-waisted sticks and drums, which are beaten with hands. The drums and drums are struck with two hammers, making the sound of gold and stone. The dancer uses the fan as a joint, and sometimes bends the waist and lowers the hands. ?This kind of geisha who serves wine, feasts, sings and dances, also known as entertainers, is a special profession in Japan and a living carrier of Japanese traditional culture. After the founding of Japan, geisha attracted the attention of many foreigners who first arrived in Japan. The novel "Madame Kikuko" and the famous Italian opera "Madama Butterfly" adapted from the novel have geisha as the protagonist. Geisha became famous all over the world with "Madame Kikuko" and "Madama Butterfly", and even the Japanese word "geisha" It has also become a loanword to English: geisha.

The profession of geisha, serving wine and feasts, singing and dancing, is not unique to Japan. Chinese official prostitutes in the Tang and Song dynasties, as well as prostitutes in Korea, are similar to Japanese geishas. However, in the history of most nations, the separation of singing, dancing and performing arts from the sex industry was basically completed before modern times, and the sex industry withdrew from the mainstream culture of society. However, Japanese geishas, ??as if they are a living ancient cultural relic, have continued until In modern times, geisha itself, as the carrier of traditional Japanese culture, has become one of the symbols of traditional Japanese culture. This phenomenon is unique to Japan.

However, even though it is "serving wine, feasting, singing and dancing", geisha is different from ordinary professions after all. From the perspective of professional singing and dancing, geishas are different from professional art actors. They usually only perform some singing and dancing sketches at banquets, and they mainly serve the opposite sex. From the perspective of "serving wine feast", they are different from waiters. They not only serve tea and wine, but also accompany the guests to chat, so that the guests can get some satisfaction in the chat. On the other hand, geishas are also different from prostitutes. In principle, geishas sell their skills but not their bodies. Since the implementation of the "Prostitution Prevention Act" in 1958, Japan has legally prohibited [the publication of sensitive words], but geishas are not prohibited and can operate openly. However, principles are principles after all, but reality may not be the case. In different historical stages, the professional nature of geisha is also different. Before World War II, geisha gave people the impression that, as the name geisha shows, they were a combination of geisha and prostitutes. Yano Tsuneta, a Japanese who studied geisha in the early days, described the geisha's profession this way: "The first thing is singing, dancing, and singing." The second is to serve the dishes and pour the wine. The third shows beautiful temperament. Fourth, drink and chat. The fifth betrayal of color. ?About selling one's sex, Yano Tsuneta's explanation is that she has sex with more than two men at the same time, or changes their spouses in a very short period of time. He then said: ?Based on this standard, there are less than two geishas who do not sell their sex. One tenth. ?

However, geishas are different from ordinary prostitutes, and the difference is not just because of their good skills. If we want to point out the most basic characteristic of geisha, it is that the services provided by geisha are mainly to satisfy the spiritual desires of the opposite sex, rather than simple physical needs. This is the reason why Yano Tsuneta said "show beautiful temperament", to show customers the appearance of the ideal woman in their imagination. Yano Tsuneta believes that this kind of beauty not only requires the geisha's clothing to be decent and thick, but also requires an overall atmosphere. For example, the entire room must be spotless, and elegant hanging scrolls must be hung on the wall. Add a unique flower arrangement to create a mood. A modern Japanese company's website introducing geishas states straightforwardly that geishas engage in "simulated love" with customers. The so-called simulated love is a kind of spiritual love, a spiritual-based satisfaction between opposite sexes. This kind of spiritual love can transcend physical satisfaction. In the world of spiritual love, it excludes physical desire, at least physical desire is not the main one. .

Of course, in any society, true feelings cannot be traded as commodities, and Japan is no exception. What geisha provides is only a virtual emotion, or an emotional game. The question is how to view this emotional game and whether you can get emotional satisfaction in this game. If it cannot provide emotional satisfaction, the profession of geisha will lose its basis for existence. Generally speaking, feelings first require authenticity, and it is difficult for people to get satisfaction from false affection.

This is probably one of the reasons why the profession of geisha is difficult to survive in other countries. If we deduce this and think that the Japanese like to be hypocritical, it would be too much of a false accusation. There is a profound historical and cultural background behind the profession of geisha, which is closely related to Japanese culture. Japan's geographical location is on the edge of the "civilization circle". It has been under the shadow of strong culture for a long time in history. It has been constantly exposed to the impact of foreign culture and had to absorb and blend foreign culture. In this process, we have developed a habit of thinking that focuses on form, pursues practical results, and does not seek deeper explanations. We are not good at pursuing the origin of things, are satisfied with external forms, and seek recognition from the central circle of civilization through similarities in form. As an original culture, it has profound historical and cultural accumulation. If we want to absorb foreign original culture in a short period of time, we can only ignore this historical and cultural accumulation and start with the imitation of appearance and form. The Buddhist teachings about life being like a dream and the impermanence of life and death have probably also influenced the outlook on life in Japanese culture. Since this life is an illusion, it is not surprising that playing with life and emotions are satisfied in the form of games (haha) , Needless to say, everyone must have a deep understanding of the game). This virtual emotional world of geisha is recognized by Japanese society. Generally, wives will not regard geisha as their husband's affair and cause emotional crisis. This is a game world that does not affect real society and is a kind of game satisfaction. Japanese men have this need for virtual emotions, and their emotions that cannot be satisfied in real society are trying to be satisfied in the virtual world. But in fact, both parties in this emotional game are real people after all. There is no insurmountable gap from virtual feelings to real feelings, from the spiritual world to the sensual world. This ambiguity and virtuality may be the mystery of geisha. On the one hand, we must maintain a distance from the real society, and on the other hand, we must try our best to perform as truthfully as possible. Therefore, although geisha is a profession and has a business relationship with customers, when interacting with guests, geisha generally do not charge directly, and the hotel collects it on their behalf. In this way, at least in form, there is no direct monetary transaction to reflect the simulation of emotion. The combination of virtuality and formal authenticity of the major premise is allowed by Japanese culture and is also the social and cultural atmosphere formed by geisha.

Of course not all geisha can provide this kind of spiritual love, this is more of a professional concept. Most of them are geishas in name only. Some of them just perform traditional songs and dances, some just chat with guests, and later they become "geishas in bed." The discussion quoted by Yano Tsuneta above is exactly the situation of geishas in the early twentieth century. There are differences between concept and reality and between geisha in different periods.

The professional characteristics of geisha determine that geisha must maintain a sense of mystery and a special temperament, so they stay away from the world and live in seclusion. Except for banquets, singing and dancing, they seem to be isolated from the world. They received training in classical arts, singing, dancing, calligraphy and painting, tea ceremony and flower arrangement, as well as the extremely complex honorifics of the upper class, etc. They strictly abide by the ancient precepts in everything. They wear kimonos, have high buns, white powder on their faces, and hold silk umbrellas in their hands. They seem to have stepped out of ancient paintings, and they have almost become the incarnation of Japanese traditional culture.

Geisha is such a mysterious profession.

Japanese Geisha

Japanese Geisha emerged in Tokyo and Osaka in the 17th century. The original geisha were all men who made a living performing dances and musical instruments in brothels and entertainment venues. In the mid-18th century, the geisha profession was gradually replaced by women, and this tradition continues to this day.

Geisha is not a prostitute. Their deal is to fulfill men's dreams of pleasure, romance and possessiveness. Usually those who trade with them are rich and powerful men from the upper class. In expensive restaurants and teahouses, men discussing business like to ask a geisha to accompany them, serve them wine, and adjust the atmosphere, and this costs at least 1,000 US dollars. Today, there are still a handful of women who join the geisha profession with romantic fantasies and a love for the traditional art. But before World War II, most geisha were forced to engage in this profession for their livelihood.

Most of the female prostitutes who work in the geisha industry are beautiful and tender, with gorgeous clothes, knowledgeable about books and etiquette, and are especially good at singing, dancing, and playing the harp. Their main job is to accompany guests to drink and have fun. The geisha industry is a performing art, not a show of sex, let alone selling one's body. However, it contains elements of male pleasure and female pleasure, so it is called geisha. What makes geisha elegant and elegant is not only that it is different from prostitutes, but also that it is not excessive. It is difficult for strangers to get involved. Most of them are recommended by acquaintances or celebrities. Geishas mostly entertain guests in geishas, ??but sometimes they are invited to accompany guests in teahouses and restaurants. According to industry regulations, geishas are not allowed to get married during their career. Otherwise, they must retire first to maintain the "pure" image of geishas.

The geisha industry in Japanese history was quite developed. Kyoto, as a centralized area, once had many geishas and tens of thousands of artists. However, the geisha industry was greatly depressed after World War II. It was only for a period of time after the economy recovered that as the corporate public relations industry heated up and the tourism industry flourished, geisha flourished again. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, There are still several hundred geishas left. But then, as the bubble economy burst, the company's business decreased, and the geisha industry fell into a trough again. It is estimated that there are only about 200 geishas in Kyoto, and the opportunities to accompany guests have also been greatly reduced. It can be said that they are deserted in front of the door. ?.

Some geishas have been converted to other uses, clothing and musical instruments have been sold or rented, and geishas have moved to nightclubs as entertainers. The decline of the geisha industry has become an indisputable fact.

Geishas in the traditional sense were not regarded as obscene in the past. On the contrary, many families were proud that their daughters could enter the art world. Because this not only shows that the family has a high cultural quality, but also has enough funds for their daughter to learn skills. Although this concept is not common today, geisha is still good in people's minds. In fact, it is not easy to become a geisha. Learning arts usually starts at the age of 10 and takes five years to complete courses ranging from culture, etiquette, language, decoration, poetry and calligraphy, harps, bowing, and pouring wine. It is very difficult. From the age of 16, you can go to sea, first as a maiko, and then as a geisha, and you can continue to work until you are 30 years old. No matter how old you are, you can still continue to work, but you will have to be downgraded and can only serve as a foil to the young and famous geisha. As for the future after old age, most people are not very optimistic. The more ideal thing is to marry a rich man and live a stable life, but this is rare. Some people use their skills to set up art schools or art classes, which is also very good. If you have the opportunity to work as an image lady in a company, even though you are just a "vase", you can still show your former style. Of course, there are also many people who become servants or even end up in brothels, which is very unfortunate.

The decline of geisha has also prompted it to carry out some reforms to adapt to the needs of the times, such as hiring women from outside Kyoto to join, changing its appearance, setting up bars in teahouses to attract late-night visitors, etc., but there has been little improvement. Because in the eyes of modern young men and women, geisha is outdated.

What makes Japanese men most satisfied is the geisha’s art of conversation. Whether it's international news or gossip, they know it all. They know how to cater to men's self-esteem, are good at observing words and emotions, and understand men's emotions. Their work is actually very stressful, while the men are completely relaxed.

It costs a lot to train a geisha, but once she becomes famous, the asking price is also very high. Especially young and beautiful senior geisha are worth more, and ordinary people dare not care about it. However, wealthy businessmen, Huahua, etc. Kuo Shao, big companies and big companies don't hesitate to spend a lot of money. When the economy is booming, large companies always use geisha as a public relations tool to attract business.

Although geishas are declining, they still exist, but their glory is no longer the same. Decline is a trend, and their demise is only a matter of time. It is worth noting that the geisha who still practice this profession have not lost confidence. They feel that geisha are the "face" of Kyoto and Japan and should be preserved. They even travel around the world to increase their social status. Some people said more clearly: Geisha is a symbol of Kyoto, and the traditional ancient culture must be protected. In recent years, there has been a tit-for-tat struggle over the decline and rise of geisha, as well as preservation and abandonment.

The mysterious world of Japanese geishas

In Japanese society, where the economy and technology are highly developed, there is still a special and mysterious group of geishas. As the name suggests, people can easily understand it as a prostitute with some talent. In fact, this is a misunderstanding. Geishas are indeed good at singing and dancing. They also drink and laugh, but they do not sell their bodies. If there is a certain geisha who sells herself, it is entirely her personal behavior.

It is said that Japanese geisha first appeared in Japan during the Genroku period (1688-1704) and have a history of more than 300 years. At that time, due to insufficient staff in brothels, they had to recruit some men from the private sector to dress up as women in the brothels and sing and dance to add to the entertainment; or recruit some women from society to act as drumming girls in the soundtrack. Later, she gradually transitioned to all female geishas.

From the very beginning, geishas have served the dignitaries and wealthy businessmen in Japan’s upper class society. People can only see them in luxurious teahouses, restaurants and secret Japanese food kiosks. Geishas are mostly dressed in luxurious clothes and elegant manners. A bright silk kimono often costs hundreds of thousands or even millions of yen. Due to the status of the clients they serve, geishas seldom appear in public. They usually live in seclusion. When they go out, they either ride in a rickshaw with the curtain down or walk in a rickshaw. When walking, a large bamboo straw hat should be buckled on the top of the head to cover the entire face. For all the reasons mentioned above, geisha have always been shrouded in an atmosphere of mystery. People can only get a glimpse of the life of a geisha from the footage shown in movies or on television.

In 1986, a high-level education delegation from my country was invited to visit Japan. The inviter was Yoshiro Mori, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the then Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party. Out of respect for the Chinese guests, Yoshiro Mori specially hosted a banquet in his hometown of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, to entertain the delegation. In order to promote drinking and traditional Japanese culture, he specially invited two geishas from Tokyo to accompany him. The banquet hall is Japanese-style, with all the guests sitting on the tatami on the floor. Two rows of low-leg tables are placed on both sides, leaving enough space in the middle. There is a high platform covered with red cloth on one side of the hall. On the high platform, two geishas wearing buns and gorgeous kimonos sit kneeling. One moment they picked up the shamisen and played and sang, the next moment they picked up the folding fans and danced. Then they walked to the guest table and knelt down to toast. Only then did I see their true colors. Even though they wear heavy makeup, they still can't hide the growth rings carved by time on their faces.

It seems that they are over 50 years old at least.

But whether they were singing, dancing or toasting, they all showed elegant postures and good conversation. They knew almost everything from all over the world, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign. In short, you can always find a suitable topic when persuading you to drink. If you offer her a glass of wine in return, she will pick up your glass without hesitation, drink it all in one gulp, and then bow deeply to you, revealing her neck which is coated with a thick layer of white powder. This is the biggest difference between geisha and ordinary Japanese women wearing kimonos. Ordinary women's kimonos have very high necks, which completely cover their necks, but geishas' kimonos have wide necks and are deliberately tilted backwards, so that their necks are completely exposed. It is said that the geisha's neck is the most attractive place for Japanese men. In those private places or the back rooms of high-end restaurants, the geishas may have other actions, but as far as I observed, during the entire banquet I participated in, the geishas all behaved enthusiastically but restrainedly, elegantly and generously. During the dinner, I tried to inquire about their income. The Japanese friend who accompanied the group told me that in addition to paying them round-trip air tickets and taxi tickets from Tokyo to Kanazawa, they would also be paid hundreds of thousands each. Appearance fee in Japanese yen.

Like sumo, geisha, a group that maintains a strong Japanese cultural tradition, is quite closed. Geishas are not allowed to get married and live together in groups under the control of older geishas. Although they earn a lot of money, their spiritual world is extremely empty. Therefore, the prevalence of homosexuality in this group has long been an open secret. The original geishas mostly came from women who wanted to devote themselves to this romantic profession. After World War II, they came from social orphans or illegitimate daughters of geishas who were forced to live. Because the internal management of geisha is extremely strict and the dance training is extremely rigid, not only young people are deterred, but even geisha who have entered this field are often tempted to move on. A few years ago, the geisha strike in the Kyoto area fully demonstrated the crisis faced by geisha.

At present, there are only a few hundred geishas in Japan. Regarding this typical sunset industry, Japanese public opinion is divided. Critics say that the emergence and existence of geisha is an anachronism. She is a product of a male-dominated era and a great irony of the feminist movement; supporters say that as a traditional Japanese culture, geisha should be preserved.

Geisha? The Flower of Eastern Evil

In the eyes of foreigners, geisha is a mysterious existence, becoming a symbol of Japan together with Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms, sumo and kabuki. However, most people probably have no idea what a geisha is. Times have changed, and geisha in the traditional sense have virtually ceased to exist. On the streets of Kyoto, you can still occasionally see the figure of geisha walking gracefully. In fact, this is just a nostalgic embellishment for modern people. As for the hostesses in high-end bars who are dressed in geisha costumes and heavily made up, their appearance, speech, behavior, temperament, and demeanor are all modern and commercialized.

I remember when I first arrived in Tokyo, I was invited to attend a reception held by a company at a high-end club in Ginza. Unexpectedly, there was a young and beautiful geisha among the hostesses, and I couldn't help but be a little excited. Perhaps because I am a foreigner, as a special courtesy, I was arranged to sit opposite the geisha lady. We were so close together that my excitement quickly turned into nervousness. When I first arrived in Japan, I didn’t understand the language or the customs. Faced with this pink and white face, I simply didn’t know what to do. Unexpectedly, a friendly "How are you?" relieved my nervousness. Although the pronunciation was not authentic, it was not unpleasant. The geisha girl looked very young, like a middle school student, so I asked, "How old are you?" She blinked and thought for a long time, and said she was already seventeen (17 years old). In retrospect, it was extremely rude to ask such a question to a geisha lady. Fortunately, she didn't care at all. Maybe it was because we were speaking in English and were not subject to Japanese etiquette. While we were chatting, the majestic "March of the Volunteers" suddenly played, and I was startled. Only then did I notice that a small five-star red flag was fluttering in the wind in front of me. The geisha girl was smiling, holding the cuff of her kimono in one hand and a small fan in the other, fanning our national flag gracefully. I couldn't help but sigh, the Japanese really know how to do business!

There is a huge difference between the modern fake geisha in the Ginza nightclub and the traditional Japanese geisha. Nowadays, we can only appreciate the style of Japanese geisha in the past in novels and movies. For example, Kawabata Yasunari's "Snow Country" and Tokuda Akio's "Epitome" are both masterpieces describing geishas. But frankly speaking, when reading this type of novel, there is always a feeling of being in the fog and specious, and I still can’t figure out the ins and outs of geisha. This is probably related to the fact that Japanese writers are too closed-minded and do not recognize the true face of Mount Lu. It was not until recently when I read "Memories of a Geisha" by American writer Arthur Golden that I suddenly understood.

A famous Japanese geisha named Sayuri told the world about her growth from a little girl in a remote fishing village to a famous geisha in a spiritual and sad tone at the dusk of her life. The legendary life and ups and downs of the emotional journey reveal the little-known, decadent and decadent life inside the Kyoto geisha world. It is soul-stirring and touching. This is the synopsis of the story of "Memories of a Geisha".

After the novel was published, it caused a huge sensation. It topped the fiction bestseller list of the New York Times Book Review column for 14 months, and was also featured in the British "Bookseller" magazine, the German "Der Spiegel" magazine, and the Australian "Book News Weekly" ” and other newspapers’ bestseller lists. After the famous director Spielberg read the novel, he immediately bought the film adaptation rights and will personally direct the film of the same name based on the novel. The success of "Memories of a Geisha" can be seen from this.

It should be said that the narrative strategy of choosing an elderly person to recall the past is clever, and it adds a real atmosphere and a sense of vicissitudes of life to the work. Whether in the East or the West, people believe that when a person is about to die, his words are also good. In addition, it is worth mentioning that Sayuri was far away from Japan when she told all this, and had lived in the United States on the other side of the Pacific for 40 years. It goes without saying that Western democratic ideas had a subtle influence on her. The parties involved have passed away one after another, which makes it possible for her to break away from the constraints of the geisha world's rules and regulations, and break out of the limitations of "being in Lushan" to examine geisha, the quintessence of Japan, with a more transcendent human scale and show its true colors.

Sayuri’s story begins with a sudden change of fate when she was nine years old. In a poor fishing village called Yorocho on the Sea of ??Japan, Chiyo (as his name was then) spent a bleak childhood. Her aging father and dying mother foreshadow her hopeless future. At this time, a local businessman who had seen the world discovered her extraordinary talent because she had a pair of beautiful gray eyes. Through his agency, Chiyo was sold to a well-known geisha house in Kyoto. Due to her outstanding talent, she immediately aroused the hatred of Hatsumomo, the famous geisha in the museum. Hatsumomo tried every means to frame her, and she was determined to put her to death. Unable to endure it, Chiyo jumped over the roof to escape. Not only did she fail, but she fell and broke her arm. Because he violated industry rules, his way forward was blocked. Once, she was sent to the street to do something. In despair, she cried sadly in a corner of Gion Street. An industrial tycoon known as "The Chairman" accidentally discovered her and saved her from desperate circumstances. Soon, Maya Mei, a famous geisha in Gion, adopted her as her sister. Under Mayumi's careful training and training, Sayuri finally became a successful geisha and the new favorite of high-ranking officials. At the same time, Mayumi and Hatsumomo started a fierce open and covert fight. In the end, Hatsumomo was eliminated and became a low-level prostitute. After going through various twists and turns, Sayuri finally got her wish and became the lover of the "Chairman"

Through Sayuri's touching narration, people can understand all the details of life and professional secrets of being a geisha. In fact, this film It might as well be read as a complete collection of geisha knowledge. ?A woman walking should give people the impression of a small romantic crossing the sand embankment? Similar descriptions are like exquisite pearls scattered in the novel, giving people great enjoyment and allowing them to appreciate the unique beauty of Japanese culture. However, what this novel really wants to tell people is how the cruelty of human nature and the desire for survival are attached to this beauty. Beauty and evil are so inextricably entangled; the beautiful flower of geisha blooms from human nature. evil.

In the eyes of Japanese men, geisha undoubtedly represents the highest charm of women. For this reason, they pursue it at all costs, thus creating the glitzy and decadent world of Gion. In this world, "beauty" is the most important thing. It is the only life capital of a geisha. Only by fully possessing this capital and using it effectively can she hope to rise to the top of the Gion pyramid and enjoy glory and wealth. In order to achieve this goal, geisha must mobilize all their wisdom. If they are a little negligent, their efforts may be wasted. A glimmer of hope and a well-timed exposure of a jade arm may have an impact on the future life. The amazing wisdom displayed by the geishas in this regard is breathtaking. In order to lure the big eel into the cave, Mayumi even resorted to a bitter trick. She stabbed Sayuri's thigh with a knife in order to create an opportunity to get close to the lecherous rich doctor "Crab". This method really worked, "Crab" finally paid a sky-high price to compete for Sayuri's "first night right".

The "beauty" of geisha undoubtedly exists first as a kind of bait, but this "beauty" is also quite self-sufficient and independent, which is not only reflected in the geisha's singing, dancing and music. She has considerable attainments in geisha, and is highly artistic in her dress, grooming, and gestures. At the same time, it is also reflected in people's adherence to geisha's rules. There is such a detail in the novel: the baron was attracted by Sayuri's beauty, and he set a trap with great difficulty to keep her in his manor and approach her alone. However, what the baron finally did was to untie her kimono and peek at her body. The reason why the baron backed down was of course due to the inviolable geisha rules. And this kind of obedience to the rules obviously reflects the Japanese people's deep-rooted awe of "the United States". At this time, beauty appears in the form of the power of the first night. The baron later joined the competition for Sayuri's "first night rights" as expected. The Japanese love beauty to the point where they refuse to give in to anything. If we compare it with Chinese novels of the same theme, such as "The Oil Seller Monopolizes the Courtesan", the result is clear. Although the Chinese also love beauty, they do not love it completely. Beauty often ends up being absorbed by charity. This is not the case in Japan. The United States has always maintained an independent status and refused to be conquered by Japan. This may be the real reason why Japanese works of art are so soul-stirring to read. Because both beauty and evil are pushed to the extreme, huge artistic tension arises.

"Memories of a Geisha" proves this again.