Courtesan - Oiran

Japanese: 花魁 - おいらん

Another name for a high-ranking prostitute in Edo and Yoshiwara. There are theories about the origin of the word, including that it was a corrupted version of the word that was used by shinzo (courtesans) and kamuro (mature women) subordinate to prostitutes to refer to their elder sister prostitutes as "oiragano (my)," but the origin is unclear. In any case, it seems to have originated from colloquial speech, and the kanji characters are ateji (phonophonic kanji). In sharebon (Japanese humorous books), many ateji characters are used, such as anegi (elder prostitute), anesho (elder prostitute), zensei (zensei), and imoutogi (younger sister). Of these, oiran (courtesan), which means "the leader of a talkative flower (beautiful woman)," was widely used and became the most representative character. As the etymology of the word suggests, oiran is an honorific title and not a job title, so there is no certainty as to which rank of prostitute it corresponds to. The term oiran became common around the Meiwa period (1764-1772), a time when tayu (courtesans) had fallen into decline in Yoshiwara and been replaced by sancha (casual tea attendants), and it is said that the highest-ranking yobidashi among the sancha attendants was originally called oiran. Yobidashi were a special class who did not put on a public appearance, but later the next-ranking chusan and the lower-ranking zashikimochi also came to be called oiran. However, all of them were given two or more rooms, accompanied by two or three shinzo and two or three toge, had various furnishings in the rooms, and bedding consisted of layered futons.

[Yoichi Harashima]

Courtesan Procession

The term "dochu" (travel) began to be used around the Genroku period (1688-1704) when high-ranking courtesans, who were required to be invited to ageya (a traditional Japanese amusement facility), would travel to and from the ageya in groups accompanied by their attendants. The Yoshiwara Oiran Dochu (traditional Japanese courtesan parade) was a promotional show that borrowed this format. At first, in Yoshiwara, it was a practical parade to and from teahouses at the invitation of guests, but the spectacle of the top star courtesan dressed up in finery and accompanied by a large number of attendants became a tourist attraction, and it was made into a separate form. Even though she did not need to go to a teahouse, she marched for the purpose of traveling. For this reason, the costumes became more extravagant, the number of attendants increased, and a unique walking style called "sotohachimonji" (outer eight-legged stalk) was invented, attracting many spectators. After the Meiji period, it gradually became an event and was no longer held every night, but attempts were made to have the parade in Western clothing.

[Yoichi Harashima]

[Reference] | Courtesan

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

江戸・吉原における上級遊女の別称。語源としては、遊女に従属する新造(しんぞう)や禿(かむろ)が姉女郎を「おいらがの（私の）」とよんだのがなまったとする説などがあるが、明らかではない。いずれにしても口語体から発生したらしく、漢字は当て字である。洒落本(しゃれぼん)には、姉妓、姉娼、全盛、妹妓など多数の当て字が使われている。そのなかで、ものいう花（美女）の魁(かしら)という意味をもつ花魁が、広く使用されて代表的文字となった。語源の伝承にもあるように、花魁は尊称的美称であって職名でないため、どの階級の遊女がこれに相当するかは一定していない。花魁の称が一般化した明和(めいわ)（1764～72）ごろは、吉原では太夫(たゆう)が衰滅して散茶(さんちゃ)がこれにかわった時代であるが、散茶のなかの最上格である呼出しを、初めは花魁とよんだという。呼出しは張り見世をしない別格であったが、のちには次位の昼三(ちゅうさん)や、その下の座敷持(ざしきもち)なども花魁とよぶようになった。ただし、いずれも2部屋以上の座敷を与えられ、新造2～3人、禿2～3人を従え、座敷には各種の調度をそろえ、寝具は重ねふとんであった。

［原島陽一］

花魁道中

遊興には揚屋(あげや)に招くことに定められていた上級遊女が、従者らを連れて一団となって揚屋へ往復するのを旅行に見立てて道中と称することは元禄(げんろく)（1688～1704）ごろに始まる。吉原の花魁道中は、この形式を借りた宣伝ショーである。吉原でも、初めは客に招かれて引手茶屋との間を往復する実用的な行進であったが、トップスターである花魁が盛装をし、大ぜいの従者を連れて行列する光景に観光的要素をみいだし、これを独立させた。茶屋に行く必要がないのに、道中を目的として行進したのである。そのために、扮装(ふんそう)は豪華となり、従者の数も増し、外八文字(そとはちもんじ)という独特の歩き方が考案され、多数の見物人を集めることになった。明治以後は、毎晩は行わずにしだいに行事化していったが、洋装の道中なども試みられた。

［原島陽一］

[参照項目] | 遊女

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

<<: Oil agglomeration

>>: Euler's equation