Geisha performances and their constructions
In the kyoto pleasure districts around 1751, and first appears in print in kyoto
Machibuure shisei [ compilation of decrees issued in kyoto ］in 1798.
All girls should despise the fashions of child actors, female geiko, or prostitutes.But these days , they girls follow these peoples ‘ fashions or regard them as fashionable , imitating the appearances of child actors . female geiko , or prostitutes . ( Aketa 1990，39-40 )
As in Edo , there were a number of prior female performance traditions that paved the way for the kyoto geiko of the eighteenth century , including shirabyosh
and muromachi – era performers known as katsurame and kaga onna who gave performances in shops located near shrines and temples in the busier sections of town ( kuroda heibei , densha nikki 1667-1668. cited in Aketa 1990，10 ) . Following this came the female performers of shamisen and dance known as taiko – joro first around 1675 in kyoto and 1683 in osaka.
Although the taiko joro literally means ‘ drum women’ , this term did not necessarily refer only to a percussionist . taiko joro were performers of several instruments and dance , and thus set the stage for the multi – disciplinary geiko that followed.
Because , like geisha , geiko implies an adult female performer of both music and dance , another term was needed for those younger dancers not yet possessing musical proficiency . the term maiko , meaning ” female dance performer ” continues to be used today within kyoto for young dancers still attaining musical ability . the historical origins of the term are uncertain , but it became widely used during the early edo period. Dating from the manji era (1658-1661), the following essay by Ihara saikaku describes maiko as female dancers aged 11 to 15 years old dressed young men.
Reference:
《the Gei or Geisha:Music, Identity and Meaning》
Author：KellyM. Foreman
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