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 in 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.

Rashomon riverbank and "O-taguro dobubu
The "Rashomon riverbank" refers to the area along the Shinbori River that ran along the south side of Yoshiwara, close to the outer edge of the brothels. It is said that the name was derived ironically from the presence of a foul-smelling drainage ditch (dobu) and the fact that the prostitutes who were housed there were not even qualified to apply "o-taguro" (black teeth).

The prostitute class and "living hell
In Yoshiwara, high-ranking prostitutes such as oiran (courtesans) and tayu (courtesans) were highly prestigious and well educated, excelling in literature and the performing arts. On the other hand, prostitutes who were forced into the "oshukuro dobu" were ill, not allowed to show their wares, and were almost completely closed off from the world of prostitution. It was difficult for them to even buy medicines with their daily earnings, and they often died of illness before completing their years of service. After death, they were usually buried at the nearby Jokanji Temple (a so-called "throw-in temple").

Townspeople's Culture and Contradictions
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Edo (present-day Tokyo), the culture of the townspeople had matured, and the glamorous Yoshiwara were depicted in ukiyoe prints, caricatures, and kabuki. However, these depictions often emphasized "chic" and "flamboyance" and did not touch on the realities of the miserable lives of prostitutes. The reality behind the scenes was hidden, and the contradictions of Yoshiwara as a "place of desire" in a consumer society were condensed.

Historical Significance
The existence of "Odukuro Dobu" and the Rashomon riverbank are not merely the backstory of the brothels, but symbolize the differences in class, the relationship between sex and consumption, and the lights and shadows of the city in Edo society. The women who were forced to work like their lives deprived of life behind the glamorous backdrop of the city truly illustrate the cruel structure of pre-modern urban society.