Prostitute - Gyu

A male servant at a brothel. Also called gyutaro. In 1668 (Kanbun 8), when bathhouse girls were transferred to Yoshiwara and tea stalls were established, a cow stand was set up in front of the store, and it is said that this is where the name gifu came from, but there is no definite proof. In large brothels, the work of gifu was divided into different roles, such as the general supervisor, the stand-by position to solicit customers, the nakahagi position to collect entertainment fees and record them, the tsuiwai position to carry food and drink and clean, the clerk to prepare documents, and the bedside position to handle the bedding. At the end of the Edo period, they were called wakamono (young people), but after the Meiji period, the term came into general use along with the character gifu. They were residents of each affiliated guild, and were arranged by a specific agent.

[Yoichi Harashima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

遊女屋の男子使用人。牛太郎(ぎゅうたろう)ともいう。1668年（寛文8）、風呂屋(ふろや)女が吉原に移されて散茶見世(さんちゃみせ)ができたとき、その店頭にギュウ台が設けられたのが、妓夫の名のおこりというが確証はない。大きい遊女屋では妓夫の仕事も分業となり、総監督を務める見世番のほか、客引きの立ち番、遊興費の徴収と記帳をする仲働き、飲食物の運搬や掃除をする追回し、書類をつくる書記、寝具を扱う床番などに分かれる。幕末には若い者とよんだが、明治以後、妓夫という文字とともに一般的となった。彼らは各所属組合の寄子(よりこ)で、特定の紹介業者が斡旋(あっせん)した。

［原島陽一］

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