Calling out during a procession of oiran - a festive occasion where Edo chic intermingles (Edo period)

Calling out during a procession of oiran - a festive occasion where Edo chic intermingles (Edo period)

The procession of oiran in Yoshiwara during the Edo period (1603-1868) was an entertaining spectacle in which oiran dressed in gorgeous costumes and geta (high clogs) were accompanied by bald or shinzo (young men). The sight of the oiran parading through Naka-no-machi was a kind of festive scene for the people of Edo, and their graceful strides, skillful use of fans and hand towels, fascinated the onlookers. Among the onlookers were many travelers and merchants visiting from the provinces, some of whom called out, "Hey, look at me! but the oiran responded with a light flick of her fan. This "silent conversation," in which no direct words were exchanged, but rather eye contact and gestures, was the embodiment of Edo chic. Despite the strict restrictions imposed by the shogunate, the oiran dance developed as a symbol of the culture of the townspeople, and in the latter half of the Edo period, it became an art form that was presented to the public. At night cherry blossoms and f
estivals, people cheered "Yo, Hinode tayu! and the whole town would be enlivened. These scenes were more than mere entertainment; they were a cultural stage on which the common people of Edo shared one-night dreams and a sense of beauty, and the figure of the oiran reflected their admiration and envy.