Voiceless Voices Picked Up by the Brush of SANDO Kyoden - Signs of Conversation in the Speech and Gestures of Yoshihara

Voiceless Voices Picked Up by the Brush of SANDO Kyoden - Signs of Conversation in the Speech and Gestures of Yoshihara
Around the early 1800s

The fashionable books of SANDO Kyoden are a unique source that depicts the world of Yoshiwara down to the texture of the voices without direct conversation. From the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century, when Kyoden was active, the culture of the townspeople had matured, and the customs and play of Yoshiwara attracted the interest of a wide readership. In response to this demand, the pun books reproduce the habits, endings, and speech patterns of prostitutes and customers in the rhythm of the text, a technique that allows the reader to intuit that this person speaks in this kind of voice.

The way a character spoke was not just a mere figure of speech, but an important signifier of the character's character, worldview, and position in Yoshiwara. Whether it was the soft tone of a prostitute addressing a customer, the blunt reply of a messenger, or the short phrases of a regular customer with an air of sophistication, Kyoden inscribed the very sound of conversation into the story. Thus, even if the actual dialogue was not written, the reader could naturally complement and read the conversation.

Furthermore, the description of movements was an important element in conveying information similar to that of the conversation. The angle at which the fan was opened, the fingertips holding the plectrum of the shamisen, the position of the sleeves concealing the smile, the posture of sitting back down, and other detailed gestures functioned as silent exchanges. In the Yoshiwara, where many scenes were conducted in which the actors could not speak clearly, gestures and eye contact served to convey emotion more than conversation. Kyoden deeply understood this cultural context and built a style that allowed the reader to read the intentions that flowed from the actions instead of the voice.

Many of the readers of the pun books were common people who never visited Yoshiwara, and the speech and gestures depicted in Kyoden's works were a simulated experience for them to imagine the brothels. The speech and mannerisms of the characters were an audio guide for the readers, and a device that enabled conversations to emerge from the static text.

Thus, Kyoden's plays are an indispensable source for understanding Edo's brothel culture, where even without actual voices, there is a hint of conversation.