Two Forms of Hanori-no-dochu: The Coming and Going of Flowers and Fruits in the Late Edo Period (Late 18th Century)

Two Forms of Hanori-no-dochu: The Coming and Going of Flowers and Fruits in the Late Edo Period (Late 18th Century)

In the late Edo period, Yoshiwara was being developed as an amusement center under the official license of the shogunate, and the culture of ritual and show business was at its peak. The procession of oiran (courtesans) was a symbol of this culture, and became firmly established in the culture of the townspeople as a "procession for show" that combined entertainment and prestige, rather than mere transportation. There were two forms of courtesan processions: the "show procession," in which the oiran wore gorgeous costumes and three-toothed geta (high clogs), and proceeded by stepping in the outer eight-meter path. Only the highest-ranking courtesans in Yoshiwara were allowed to do this, and their appearance was admired by the people and was a kind of art form for the common people of Edo.

On the other hand, the other is the modest and practical "welcoming procession. This was performed when a courtesan or familiar guest was picked up at a teahouse, and a small group of oiran, kamuro (courtesans), and yakate (courtesans) formed the group. The lanterns were decorated with the names and crests of the oiran, and the procession proceeded quietly, with the lights illuminating the Nakanomachi area at night. This modest procession was a symbol of the beauty of the Yoshiwara's backstage - the "coolness of the shadows.

In the society of the townspeople of Edo, both the glamor of the front and the modesty of the back were valued as a sense of beauty. In the latter half of the 18th century, the oiran Michu became a form of entertainment and was frequently depicted in ukiyoe and tawaraban (tile prints). The emotions of the Edo people, who were torn between "dreams" and "reality," are reflected in these depictions.

The glitter of the gorgeous costumes and the quietness that wavers in the shadows of the lights. The procession of courtesans was not just a procession, but a "walking art" created by the Edo people, and the entire town was its audience.