Prostitute of Eguchi - Eguchi no Yujo

Japanese: 江口の遊女 - えぐちのゆうじょ

...The reason why Eguchi is known in history is because of the entertainment facilities that were created as a transportation hub. Many diaries from that time tell us that prostitutes, including Kannon, Nakanokimi, Koma, Shirome, and Shuden, responded to invitations from nobles on boats called kobatsubune. Performing arts and literature were born from the interactions between nobles and prostitutes during pilgrimages to Sumiyoshi Shrine and Kumano. As seen in the Jikkunsho, "The prostitutes of Eguchi are the authors of Shinkokin," and in the Ryojinhisho Kudenshu, "At that time, the playgirls of Eguchi and Kanzaki sang Imayo, and their voices were also unique. (Omitted) In the past, it was called the Eguchi-Kanzaki style, and now the Imayo that has been passed down in Eguchi and Kanzaki is." ...

From Eguchi

...Written by Kan'ami. The shite is the spirit of a prostitute from Eguchi. A traveling monk (waki) travels to Settsu Province and visits the former site of the prostitute from Eguchi, where he is called out by a young woman (mae-jite).

*Some of the terminology used to refer to "Eguchi's prostitutes" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…江口の地が史上にその名を知られるのは，交通の要衝であることから生み出された遊興施設の存在であり，なかでも観音，中君，小馬，白女，主殿をはじめとする遊女が，小端舟と呼ばれる舟に乗って貴紳の招に応じたことは，当時の日記が多く物語る。住吉社や熊野等への参詣時における貴族と遊女の交流の中から，芸能や文学が生み出されており，《十訓抄》に〈江口の遊女妙は新古今の作者也〉とみえるのをはじめ，《梁塵秘抄口伝集》に〈其おり江口･神崎のあそび女ども今様を唱その声又かくべつなり。(中略)昔は江口･神崎の流と云て，いま江口･神崎に有所の伝来の今様ハ〉等とある。…