Rashomon Riverbank and Living Hell - The Reality of the Lowest Class Lurking Behind the Gorgeousness (Edo Period)

Rashomon Riverbank and Living Hell - The Reality of the Lowest Class Lurking Behind the Gorgeousness (Edo Period)

The Yoshiwara brothels were known for their glamorous and prestigious world, as symbolized by the oirani-no-duchu (courtesans). Behind the scenes, however, there existed a gruesome reality that anyone would want to turn away from. The lowest class of prostitutes were gathered in a section of the city called "Odukuro-dobu," which was located facing the Rashomon riverbank. The drains here emitted a foul stench, and sanitary conditions were poor. It was a dark space in contrast to the glamorous Omise.

Many of the prostitutes forced into this area suffered from venereal diseases and infirmities, and were looked down upon by customers. Many of them did not live out their years and either died of disease or were sent to "nagekomiji" (a temple for prostitutes) because their hopes of becoming a prostitute had been cut off. The common people of Edo called this horrific situation "living hell," a term that became popular as a symbol of the extreme difference in class in Yoshiwara.

As a historical background, the Edo period from the 18th to the 19th century was a period of maturing merchant culture, and Yoshiwara depicted in ukiyoe and literature was emphasized for its opulence and splendor. In reality, however, the interior of Yoshiwara was organized according to a strict hierarchy, with high-ranking courtesans making enormous amounts of money in a single night, while the lowest class of prostitutes were forced to live a life of poverty and disease.

The existence of "o-taguro-dobu" (blacksmiths) is a true testament to the lights and shadows of Edo's consumer society. On the front stage, the glamorous Yoshiwara was the centerpiece of Edo culture, while behind the scenes, prostitutes were forced to work like their lives depended on it. This duality of splendor and misery is the true image of Yoshiwara, where the contradictions and cruelties of Edo society were condensed.