Haruyoni-no-Sakuro - Yoshiwara's Geisha Hierarchy and the Time of the Harumise (Edo Period)

Haruyoni-no-Sakuro - Yoshiwara's Geisha Hierarchy and the Time of the Harumise (Edo Period)

The Yoshiwara brothel in Edo was established as an officially sanctioned brothel district in 1617 by the shogunate, and played an important role in urban life and entertainment culture under the bakuhan system. Yoshiwara was surrounded by castle walls and moats, and was an independent neighborhood, distinct from the outside world, in which the brothels formed a clear hierarchy according to rank and function.

The most prestigious brothels were called "Omise," which had several senior prostitutes and were equipped with spacious rooms and furnishings to entertain their guests. The size of the geisha houses and the type of customers they served changed from the middle to the small, and the clientele ranged from feudal lords, warriors, and wealthy merchants to ordinary people seeking daily amusement.

The harumise, located at the front of the first floor of the brothel, was a stage where customers could observe the appearance, costumes, and gestures of prostitutes through a lattice door and choose the partner of their choice. The splendid uchikake and careful gestures of the prostitutes demonstrated their value and stimulated the customers' expectations. Senior prostitutes, called oiran (courtesans), not only stood on the harimise, but also paraded through the streets as oiran, enhancing their presence as symbols of Yoshiwara.

The late Edo period saw an increase in the urban population, the rise of the merchant class, and the development of consumer culture. Yoshiwara became more prestigious in the midst of this trend and prospered with the oiran culture at its core. The living spaces inside the zangmise and the maiko were not merely places of prostitution, but also social spaces where customers and prostitutes deepened their relationships through conversation, eating, and drinking.

However, many prostitutes were subjected to harsh living conditions, and exploitation and suffering were hidden behind the glamorous atmosphere. The hierarchical structure of the brothels and the role of the harlots' showrooms are a mirror of the class, economy, and culture of Edo society, and illustrate the complex charms and shadows of the Yoshiwara space.