At the time of the Ox's Hour, when the lanterns sway, only a hint of conversation fills Yoshiwara (Late Edo Period)

At the time of the Ox's Hour, when the lanterns sway, only a hint of conversation fills Yoshiwara (Late Edo Period)
At the time of the Ox in Yoshiwara, around 2:00 a.m., the deepest darkness of the day envelops the inside of the building. Even in Yoshiwara, which is bustling day and night, a strange quietness descends only at this time of day. The sound of the shamisen had ceased, the guests and prostitutes were all asleep, and only the dim light from the lanterns swayed in the corridors. In the twilight, a young watchman walks slowly. They kept the lanterns oiled, kept the lights on, and made their rounds late at night to prevent unusual occurrences such as the misbehavior of sleeping smokers, thefts, and escapes. This patrol was like a lifeline because Yoshiwara was densely populated with wooden buildings and fires were most feared.
The sound of the footsteps of the suspicious guard was noticed by the oiran, and a small voice came out through the curtain paper. The oiran noticed the footsteps of the suspicious guard, and a small voice came out through the noren-gami: "Are you there? It was not so much an exchange of words as a conversation, but rather a faint breathing response to confirm each other's presence. In the brothels late at night, words are exchanged in a reserved manner, almost as a sign. Even at this hour, it was difficult for the prostitutes to fall asleep completely, and they were shuttling back and forth between thin slumber and wakefulness, nervously preparing for an urgent call.
The shadows swaying slightly behind the curtain paper, the slender light of the lanterns extending down the corridor, the faint clanking of metal fittings as the watchman greases the floor. All of these sounds and lights symbolized the ox-three o'clock in Yoshiwara. These late-night patrols were recorded in the Yoshiwara Hosomi and Morisada Manuscripts, showing how careful the brothels of the late Edo period were in preventing fires and commotion. Ukiyoe also often depict a guard walking alone in a brothel late at night, or a quiet Yoshiwara with only the lights of the lanterns remaining, showing the true face of Yoshiwara apart from its splendor.
This exchange of oxen was a world of less than conversation, exchanged not by voice but by presence, where small tensions and tenderness coexisted to support the harshness of life. Both the courtesans and the suspicious guards, bound by their respective duties, were listening to the quiet pulsation of the huge space called Yoshiwara, using the slightest sign hidden in the depths of the night as a clue.