Takao

Japanese: 高尾 - たかお

A prostitute from the early to mid-Edo period. Also written as Takao. It is said that there were seven prostitutes (Shoji Katsutomi, "Dobo Goen," Hara Budayu, "Takao Kou," etc.) or eleven (Santo Kyoden, "Kinsei Kiseki Kou," Santo Kyosan, "Takao Kou," etc.) who bore this name and were employed by Shirōzaemon at the brothel Miuraya in Kyomachi 1-chōme, Yoshiwara, Edo, and all of them were known as famous prostitutes representing Yoshiwara, and were called equal to the Yoshino Tayū of Kyoto. It is said that Miuraya did not count the number of generations, so there are large differences in the generations and nicknames depending on the tradition. The most famous are as follows. 1. Myoshin Takao. Said to be the first. Around the Kan'ei period (1624-1644), she was from the former Yoshiwara period, and after retiring she became a nun and took the name Myoshin. There is also a theory that she is the same person as Komochi Takao, who traveled around the pleasure quarters with her child. 2. Sendai (Manji) Takao. Said to be the second generation. The best known of all the Takaos. He was brutally murdered at the three-way crossing of the Sumida River because he did not follow the will of Date Tsunamune, the lord of the Sendai domain. A rumor was born linking him to the Date Disturbance, and he was included in Joruri and Kabuki plays such as "Kara Sendai Hagi" and "Date Kyo-Akuni Gekijo." The idea of Takao's ghost confessing after his untimely death gave rise to a series of dance plays called "Takaomono." In addition to the theory that this is the first generation, there is also a theory that he is the same person as Ishii Takao, who was sold to Ishii Kichibei, a samurai of the Omi Hikone domain. 3. Saijo Takao. There are three generations, and he was bought out by Saijo Kichibei, a candle wholesaler (also known as a lacquer artist). 4. The fourth generation Takao includes Asano Takao, who was bought out by Asano Inaba no Kami, Shimada Takao, whose lover was Shimada Juzaburo, and Mizutani Takao, who was sold to Mizutani Rokubei, a merchant who was a supplier to the Mito family. 5. Konya (Dazome) Takao. Kanda Otama married Ikeno Konya Kurobei. Some say she was the 5th or 6th generation. ⑥ Komochi Takao. Said to be the 6th generation. ⑦ Rokushi Takao. Said to be the 7th generation. She had six toes and was the only courtesan to wear tabi socks. ⑧ Sakakibara Takao, who was transferred to the family register of Sakakibara Shikibu Taisuke, the governor of Himeji. Said to be the 10th generation.

(Toshihiko Uda)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

江戸前・中期の遊女。高雄とも書く。江戸吉原京町1丁目の妓楼三浦屋四郎左衛門抱えで,この名を名乗った遊女は7人(庄司勝富『洞房語園』,原武太夫『高尾考』など)または11人(山東京伝『近世奇跡考』,山東京山『高尾考』など)あったといい,いずれも吉原を代表する名妓として知られ,京都の吉野太夫と並称された。三浦屋ではその代数を数えなかったといい,そのため伝によって代数や通称にも異同が大きい。著名なのは以下の通り。 ①妙心高尾。初代といわれる。寛永(1624～44)ごろ,元吉原時代の人で,隠退後尼となって妙心を名乗った。子連れで廓内を道中した子持高尾と同一人物とする説もある。②仙台(万治)高尾。2代といわれる。歴代高尾中でもっとも知られる。仙台藩主伊達綱宗の意に従わず,隅田川の三又で惨殺されたという。伊達騒動に関係づけられた巷説が生まれ,「伽羅先代萩」「伊達競阿国戯場」などの浄瑠璃や歌舞伎に仕組まれたほか,非業の死を遂げた高尾の亡霊がざんげする趣向は,舞踊劇「高尾物」という系列を生んだ。これを初代とする説のほか,近江彦根藩士の石井吉兵衛に落籍された石井高尾と同一人物説もある。③西条高尾。3代といい,蝋燭問屋(御蒔絵師とも)西条吉兵衛に請け出された。④4代高尾には浅野因幡守が身請けした浅野高尾,島田重三郎を恋人とした島田高尾,水戸家の御用達商人水谷六兵衛に落籍された水谷高尾説がある。⑤紺屋(駄染)高尾。神田お玉が池の紺屋九郎兵衛に嫁した。5代,あるいは6代とする説もある。⑥子持高尾。6代目とされる。⑦六指高尾。7代とされる。足の指が6本あり,傾城としてただひとり足袋を履いたという。⑧姫路の大守榊原式部太輔に落籍された榊原高尾。10代とされる。

(宇田敏彦)

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