Newly built - Shinzo

A class of prostitutes in the Edo period, also called "shinzo." The subject was not fixed depending on the era and place. Around the Kan'ei period (1624-1644), a new tayu (courtesan) who started working at a shop was called shinzo, but in Edo and Yoshiwara, a shinzo was a woman who completed her term as a kamuro and joined an older prostitute. Yoshiwara shinzos were apprentice prostitutes who did not take customers, but were allowed to start working as prostitutes once they had mastered the etiquette. This was called "tsukidashi," and they spent a huge amount of money on clothing and other things. Even within Yoshiwara, there were lower-class prostitutes called shinzo in lower-class brothels, and banto shinzo, over 30 years old, who looked after the personal needs of higher-class prostitutes. In Osaka, those who played the role of banto shinzo were called hikifune.

Furthermore, an unmarried girl was called a shinzo, and a new bride or a wife with a mother-in-law was called a goshinzo.

[Yoichi Harashima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代の遊女の一階級で、「しんぞ」ともいう。時代や土地によってその対象は一定しない。寛永(かんえい)（1624～44）ごろには新しく店に出た太夫(たゆう)を新造とよんだが、江戸・吉原では禿(かむろ)の年季を終えて姉女郎についたものを新造といった。吉原の新造は遊女見習いで客をとらせず、作法などを修得すると遊女営業を始めさせた。これを「突出(つきだ)し」といって、衣類などに莫大(ばくだい)な費用をかけた。同じ吉原でも下級遊女屋には新造という下級遊女がおり、また上級遊女の身辺を世話する30歳以上の番頭新造がいた。番頭新造の役をする者を大坂では引舟(ひきふね)と称した。

　なお別に、未婚の少女を新造、新妻あるいは姑(しゅうとめ)のいる妻女を御新造(ごしんぞ)とよんだ。

［原島陽一］

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