The Exchange of Negotiations for a Contract: Love and Calculation Intertwine in the Yoshiwara Language Stage (Edo Period)

The Exchange of Negotiations for a Contract: Love and Calculation Intertwine in the Yoshiwara Language Stage (Edo Period)

In the Yoshiwara of the Edo period (1603-1868), "dokonoke" was a system whereby prostitutes were purchased from brothels and given their freedom in the form of a fiefdom. For the customers, it was a sign of love, and for the prostitutes it meant freedom from bondage, but at the same time it was a cold reality involving money and status. In negotiations, the tension was like a business meeting, with a flurry of witticisms and sarcasm, and the unique Edo aesthetic of "iki" (style) was alive and well.

When a customer who offered to marry a bride earnestly said, "I will cherish this for the rest of my life," the proprietress or the mediator would respond with a laugh, "Hohoho, shall I have you write that in the deed? This was not a mere joke, but an ironic demand for realistic assurance, and at the same time, a touchstone to measure the sincerity of the customer. The courtesans themselves sometimes responded from behind their fans, "I hope your words are not just for tonight," and a verbal tug-of-war ensued between love and money, emotion and institutions.

Such exchanges were a kind of theater in the social setting of Yoshiwara. The courtesans not only directed themselves and charmed their customers, but also used their wit and education to defend their positions. The proprietresses and mediators also kept their cool as merchants, joking and maintaining the balance in their dealings.

In Edo society at that time, women had limited means to change their status. Although it appeared to be an extension of romantic love, it was in fact a form of social contract. The verbal games of words seen in these transactions were not mere proof of affection, but an expression of wisdom and pride for women in feudal society to speak and choose their own destiny.

Behind this exchange lies the sensitivity of the Edo people, who wanted to believe in love but knew the reality of the situation. The exchange that unfolded between laughter and sarcasm was a timeless drama that symbolized the aesthetics of the Yoshiwara and the human condition.