I wrote previously about Get to Know Oiran which briefly explained who Oiran is and how it was in the Edo period. I also explained how Oiran was high on demand with higher price than Geisha. Geisha won over Oiran in popularity and Oiran lost its business slowly which eventually banned by the Japanese government. Here are skills that made Oiran special: Image Via - Amazon Calligraphy/Writing Some people might think that calligraphy is nothing special. However, it is important to know that back then, women were not allowed to pursue education; not as high as men. Oiran learnt calligraphy because they followed the trend within the Imperial family. It makes them even more special because through the knowledge of calligraphy, Oiran often wrote letters to their lovers. Considering they could have many lovers from various backgrounds, an Oiran might adjust her language in letters which supported why writing or calligraphy skill was vital. Poetry Similar to the first point regarding writing and calligraphy, being skilled in literature was thought to be romantic and well-educated. Poetry was regarded as a fine art not everyone could excel in. Men of higher status could find this attractive. A passionate poem in a letter? It would drive the man crazy. Image Via - Pinterest Dancing and Singing This is rather easy to explain or rather, there is no need to explain. Imagine a beautiful woman dancing or singing for you. Ageya, where Oiran worked at, also was a place for men to hold banquet and parties. What would party be without dancing and singing? Flower Arrangement Flower arrangement was a popular art. Not just as a decoration but also as an expression of feelings. Being skillful in flower arrangement proved that an Oiran had a refined taste. Tea Ceremony Art of tea or also known as sado, is a ritual of serving client. It involved good gestures and good taste of tea. An Oiran must be able to perform it well from the first step to the end. To be able to serve well was a must for Oiran ever since they entered the business. Image Via - Studio Esperanto Socializing Knowing that clients could come from various backgrounds, an Oiran must be able to adjust well to the topic. Other than simply selling sexual pleasure, conversation and interaction were important to build trust with clients. Socializing skill of an Oiran determined whether the client would come back or not. If the client came from political background, although not interfering in the affairs, an Oiran must be able to guess how a political man act and correspond to it. If the client came from business background, an Oiran must know what topic would suit a merchant. Playing Instruments Most customers who went to find Oiran wanted to be entertained. They wanted to de-stress and therefore, a feast accompanied with music sweet to the ears was popular. Oiran must train hard to memorize notes and music of different variety depending on the client’s request. If an Oiran could not entertain the client, the client would not come back. It was common for client of high-rank to abuse Oiran that did not suit their taste or mood. Considering all those skills they had to learn, weren’t they amazing? Of course, they were pitiful as well because they were not allowed to go with their loved ones. They did not get to decide for themselves and they had to expose themselves to sexually transmitted diseases. Most of them time when they got pregnant, they risked their life going through abortion.
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