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Geisha
In this classic best seller, Liza Dalby, the first non-Japanese ever to have trained as a geisha, offers an insider's look at the exclusive world of female companions to the Japanese male elite. A new preface examines how geisha have been profoundly affected by the changes of the past quarter century yet―especially in Kyoto―have managed to take advantage of modern developments to maintain their social position with flair.
347 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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5605 people want to read
About the author
Liza Dalby
17 books200 followersWith its fascinating story of characters caught up in a world they themselves don't understand, Hidden Buddhas may well be Liza Dalby's best work yet. Besides taking us on a journey through little-known corners of Japan, it offers us an engaging and believable portrait of people driven to do things they may not have imagined." --Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha
According to esoteric Buddhist theology, the world is suffering through a final corrupt era. Many in Japan believe that after the world ends, the Buddha of the Future will appear and bring about a new age of enlightenment. Hundreds of temples in Japan are known to keep mysterious hidden buddhas secreted away except on rare designated viewing days. Are they being protected, or are they protecting the world?
From these ancient notions of doom and rebirth comes a startling new novel by the acclaimed author of Geisha and The Tale of Murasaki. Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos explores the karmic connections between Japanese fashion, pilgrimage, dying honeybees, bad girls with cell phones, murder by blowfish, and the Buddhist apocalypse. Something of a Buddhist Da Vinci Code, Hidden Buddhas travels through time to expose a mystery you will never forget."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
July 26, 2015
I liked the author's approach to the culture and the people who agreed to help her learn more about the profession. I appreciated that she wrote not only about Kyoto. However, I found some of her conclusions too hastily drawn, for example her claim that being a wife and being a geisha is mutually exclusive. Geisha are not as homogenous as they might appear, there were and are many kinds of geisha, and STUFF HAPPENS and exceptions abound, especially in professions like this one. Japanese culture isn't really built on a set of inflexible rules, not much more than other cultures anyway.
February 11, 2008
[Note: At the time I wrote this review, I had not yet read Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. And I think I may be the only person in America who still hasn't.]
Of course, it's now a full week after A&E aired _The Secret Life of Geisha_, a show nominally based on Dalby's 1983 account of her time in Kyoto as the only non-Japanese ever to train and serve as a geisha. But I kept reading anyway. The show's material came, for the most part, from the first four chapters of the book, which cover a good deal of history, and ignored the rest, which is more of a personal accounting of Dalby's time in Kyoto and her research in Tokyo and some of the smaller towns.
Dalby's account is straightforward and precise, though I don't want to give the impression there's nothing here that would give the reader a sense of personal experience; far from it. Dalby, an anthropologist by nature as well as trade, has a knack for being able to translate emotion into recognizable speech and get it all down on paper in an easy-to-understand form.
The end result is compulsively readable, half-journal and half-explication, of the widely misunderstood world of geisha and the cultural context to which it belongs-- as important to an understanding of what geisha are as a study of the women themselves. Dalby adresses the paradox that the women considered the most servile in Japan are also those with the most freedom, and by the time the book is finished it's no longer a paradox, really. Dalby takes the reader through the world of geisha, its history, its context, and most importantly the outside world's misconception of it. All is explained in such a way as to be easily absorbed, Not in the tradition of "classic" anthropological works at all. Which is a good thing.
Absorbing, a quick read, new stuff to be learned, how can you go wrong?
Of course, it's now a full week after A&E aired _The Secret Life of Geisha_, a show nominally based on Dalby's 1983 account of her time in Kyoto as the only non-Japanese ever to train and serve as a geisha. But I kept reading anyway. The show's material came, for the most part, from the first four chapters of the book, which cover a good deal of history, and ignored the rest, which is more of a personal accounting of Dalby's time in Kyoto and her research in Tokyo and some of the smaller towns.
Dalby's account is straightforward and precise, though I don't want to give the impression there's nothing here that would give the reader a sense of personal experience; far from it. Dalby, an anthropologist by nature as well as trade, has a knack for being able to translate emotion into recognizable speech and get it all down on paper in an easy-to-understand form.
The end result is compulsively readable, half-journal and half-explication, of the widely misunderstood world of geisha and the cultural context to which it belongs-- as important to an understanding of what geisha are as a study of the women themselves. Dalby adresses the paradox that the women considered the most servile in Japan are also those with the most freedom, and by the time the book is finished it's no longer a paradox, really. Dalby takes the reader through the world of geisha, its history, its context, and most importantly the outside world's misconception of it. All is explained in such a way as to be easily absorbed, Not in the tradition of "classic" anthropological works at all. Which is a good thing.
Absorbing, a quick read, new stuff to be learned, how can you go wrong?
February 9, 2011
I've been an enthusiast of Japan and the Japanese culture since a young age, so Geisha by Liza Dalby was perhaps unsurprisingly an incredibly engaging and illuminating read for me. I knew a lot of the information she addressed going in, but many of the technical aspects of the lifestyle and the traditions she discussed were new to me. It was also one of my first encounters with anthropological literature, which turned out to be a great mixture of raw informative and personal accounts.
Undeniably, geisha is a subject that has been greatly misconceived by the American culture since World War II. Many today still believe that they are merely glorified prostitutes; a subject that Liza thoroughly addresses in her book with pictures and descriptions of practices between the two. From the greatly discussed mizuage that appears in Arthur Golden's book, Memoirs of A Geisha, to the sisterhood apparent in geisha houses; from the rituals and tea ceremonies to the dress and training a maiko undergoes, Liza Dalby gives an unprecedented look at a subculture that, until her time, was unknown. And while the information may be a little outdated now, the historical validity and interest factor is definitely there.
Undeniably, geisha is a subject that has been greatly misconceived by the American culture since World War II. Many today still believe that they are merely glorified prostitutes; a subject that Liza thoroughly addresses in her book with pictures and descriptions of practices between the two. From the greatly discussed mizuage that appears in Arthur Golden's book, Memoirs of A Geisha, to the sisterhood apparent in geisha houses; from the rituals and tea ceremonies to the dress and training a maiko undergoes, Liza Dalby gives an unprecedented look at a subculture that, until her time, was unknown. And while the information may be a little outdated now, the historical validity and interest factor is definitely there.
July 10, 2013
Lots of great information but I didn't really like how Dalby writes. Sometimes it almost seems like she is prejudiced toward Westerners...Like many of the other reviews say, a better editor would have been beneficial because there are many, many typos throughout the book. Dalby even gets the capital of Japan wrong once in the feudal era too.
There's lots of information here about geisha but I don't think it's the BEST source. Dalby talks about geisha via her personal narrative so sometimes we learn more about her personal experiences than we do about geisha.
There's lots of information here about geisha but I don't think it's the BEST source. Dalby talks about geisha via her personal narrative so sometimes we learn more about her personal experiences than we do about geisha.
April 19, 2014
Like most other readers (I'm guessing), I'd read Memoirs of a Geisha before I ever heard of this book. I actually stumbled upon this in a used bookstore--there was a 2 for 1 sale, I figured that this looked interesting, and it came home with me as my free book. :)
I think this is best to read after Memoirs of a Geisha because then potential mismatches of culture in the fictional account won't bother you so much, but you will be intrigued to learn more.
Dalby does a great job of blending Japanese culture, personal experience, and interviews into a compelling portrait of a very intriguing class of Japanese women. It's hard to come away from the book with the same mindset you entered it with (from either a Japanese or Western perspective, if Dalby's explanation of the geisha as a somewhat mysterious phenomenon in Japan itself is true).
Clear, readable, and interesting nonfiction. :)
I think this is best to read after Memoirs of a Geisha because then potential mismatches of culture in the fictional account won't bother you so much, but you will be intrigued to learn more.
Dalby does a great job of blending Japanese culture, personal experience, and interviews into a compelling portrait of a very intriguing class of Japanese women. It's hard to come away from the book with the same mindset you entered it with (from either a Japanese or Western perspective, if Dalby's explanation of the geisha as a somewhat mysterious phenomenon in Japan itself is true).
Clear, readable, and interesting nonfiction. :)
May 31, 2018
This book was amazing! I learned so many new things, and I loved all of the pictures. Liza Dalby brings so much information and personal experience to this anthropological study of Geisha. It makes me wish that I could have also experienced what she was able to. Highly recommend if you are at all interested in this subject.
September 16, 2013
Liza Dalby apparently became a geisha for a few months in about 1976, for her anthropology grad work. As an anthropological study, it is well constructed, and probably reworked for the general public--moving the statistical parts to a separate section etc. Her descriptions of life in the geisha house are vivid and well written, though I would have enjoyed a bit more background information. What drew her to Japanese language and culture in the first place? When did she first begin to study the language? What influenced her decision to study geisha life in particular? We are given tantalising glimpses of her past (acquiring the name Kikuko from an unnamed "host family"--when? Where? Highschool exchange programme, or something else?) but not much information about how she was drawn into a culture which at the time was so very different from the US.
In the text, Dalby mentions dreaming of being the Margaret Mead of geisha. I wonder, did her subjects tell her as many porkies as the Samoans did Ms Mead? Also I was amused at how scathing she was about young Japanese girls "playing at being maiko (apprentice geisha) for a few months" and then dropping out to get married or whatever. She herself was only acting as a geisha for less than a year. And then she went away and wrote her thesis. The irony of this vis a vis her comments seems to have been lost on her. But then one is always the exception in one's own life...
She also mentions appearing on an American TV show as one of three people dressed as geishas, and how her experience of wearing kimono and "walking geisha" made it obvious who was the "real" one (there's that irony again!). It gave me a blast from the past...at that time I was about 13 and have a vague memory of seeing the programme.
I picked this book up in a second hand shop; unaware at the time of the book or its author I was expecting a novel. I may check out some more of her work if available to me.
In the text, Dalby mentions dreaming of being the Margaret Mead of geisha. I wonder, did her subjects tell her as many porkies as the Samoans did Ms Mead? Also I was amused at how scathing she was about young Japanese girls "playing at being maiko (apprentice geisha) for a few months" and then dropping out to get married or whatever. She herself was only acting as a geisha for less than a year. And then she went away and wrote her thesis. The irony of this vis a vis her comments seems to have been lost on her. But then one is always the exception in one's own life...
She also mentions appearing on an American TV show as one of three people dressed as geishas, and how her experience of wearing kimono and "walking geisha" made it obvious who was the "real" one (there's that irony again!). It gave me a blast from the past...at that time I was about 13 and have a vague memory of seeing the programme.
I picked this book up in a second hand shop; unaware at the time of the book or its author I was expecting a novel. I may check out some more of her work if available to me.
February 9, 2012
This book was brilliant.
I loved how Liza wrote about the history of Geisha in Japan and every tiny detail of the things in their life - Kimono and how it is worn, why it is worn, the way it is worn, the colours that are worn and why.
Every detail is written about and it is definately one of the best books i've read about concerning geisha - and it was even written by a non-Japanese.
It has aspects of her time as a geisha, but it wasn't too autobiographical. It forcussed mainly on geisha arts and customs itself - without being too historical.
She put an intimate approach to the way she talked about the facts of geisha.
A very highly recommended read for anybody who is as fascinated by geisha as I am, or just Japan (or other cultures) in general.
I loved it.
I loved how Liza wrote about the history of Geisha in Japan and every tiny detail of the things in their life - Kimono and how it is worn, why it is worn, the way it is worn, the colours that are worn and why.
Every detail is written about and it is definately one of the best books i've read about concerning geisha - and it was even written by a non-Japanese.
It has aspects of her time as a geisha, but it wasn't too autobiographical. It forcussed mainly on geisha arts and customs itself - without being too historical.
She put an intimate approach to the way she talked about the facts of geisha.
A very highly recommended read for anybody who is as fascinated by geisha as I am, or just Japan (or other cultures) in general.
I loved it.
October 8, 2017
so many books on Geisha Culture. Read this one first then proceed to watch Arthur Golden Memoir of a Geisha. Then you can stop reading about Geisha... This book can be found at secondhand book store if you are lucky.
Liza gave an extensive view of an interesting and fascinating world of being being a Geisha. Music, Poetry and the art of entertaining.
a must read.
Liza gave an extensive view of an interesting and fascinating world of being being a Geisha. Music, Poetry and the art of entertaining.
a must read.
May 30, 2012
“Geisha” first published in 1983 was an extremely influential work in the study of Japanese culture and the intricacies of the lives of geiko (geisha). In it, Dalby examines the history and many aspects of geisha life such as dress, ritual practice, initiation, shamisen playing and zashiki (geisha parties). The style of the book is written in a quite a personal manner, and reads somewhat like a novel. Some could argue that this diminishes the scholarly value, but it is easy to see how well it serves to draw the reader into the world of geisha. It seems more honest to take away any pretence that there is no bias on the part of the author; the reader can clearly perceive the anecdotal nature of the study.
The very word geisha, means ‘artist.’ This is the aspect that Dalby brings to the forefront in her book. Not only are geisha accomplished in arts such as song and dance, but they must also be proficient in the art of conversation and knowledge. Dalby portrays the geisha as being somehow separate to ‘normal’ Japanese society, as in ‘flower and willow world,’ women rule. In fact it is one of the few instances in Japan in which a girl child is favoured over having a son.
One geisha remarked “My choice would be either to be born a man or be born a geisha”. Dalby shows that in Japan, wives have little power or economic base of their own. Neither can wives have lovers. On the other hand geisha can be with who they please and are not usually tied down by family commitments or children. They can earn their own money, especially if they end up owning a bar or teahouse. A wife must be demure and stay at home whereas a geisha is worldly, and has the opportunity to be involved in many social situations with some of the most important people in Japan. Geisha are free in many ways that the average Japanese woman is not.
But Dalby plays down the fact that despite all this freedom, even geisha’s lives tend to revolve around men. Even geiko and mama-sans (the owners of tea houses) all are in a business specifically tailored to entertaining men. One cannot even marry and be a geisha. Even if a geisha acquires a ‘patron’ who pays for her expenses in exchange for more exclusive time with her (which can have a sexual element to it) she will never have all of his attention because of his wife There is still much to be desired in the life of a geisha, which Dalby only barley acknowledges. They have a peculiar place in Japan as they are regarded as one of the cultural treasures, and yet are simultaneously seen as something slightly too risqué and controversial.
Dalby hints at the idea of ‘working women’ in Japan, but otherwise does not acknowledge other ways for women to gain power in Japan. She presents a limiting dichotomy between wives and women of the ‘flower and willow world’. She barely touches on the way in which the powerful patriarchy of Japan limits all women, even those with the most freedom: geisha.
The very word geisha, means ‘artist.’ This is the aspect that Dalby brings to the forefront in her book. Not only are geisha accomplished in arts such as song and dance, but they must also be proficient in the art of conversation and knowledge. Dalby portrays the geisha as being somehow separate to ‘normal’ Japanese society, as in ‘flower and willow world,’ women rule. In fact it is one of the few instances in Japan in which a girl child is favoured over having a son.
One geisha remarked “My choice would be either to be born a man or be born a geisha”. Dalby shows that in Japan, wives have little power or economic base of their own. Neither can wives have lovers. On the other hand geisha can be with who they please and are not usually tied down by family commitments or children. They can earn their own money, especially if they end up owning a bar or teahouse. A wife must be demure and stay at home whereas a geisha is worldly, and has the opportunity to be involved in many social situations with some of the most important people in Japan. Geisha are free in many ways that the average Japanese woman is not.
But Dalby plays down the fact that despite all this freedom, even geisha’s lives tend to revolve around men. Even geiko and mama-sans (the owners of tea houses) all are in a business specifically tailored to entertaining men. One cannot even marry and be a geisha. Even if a geisha acquires a ‘patron’ who pays for her expenses in exchange for more exclusive time with her (which can have a sexual element to it) she will never have all of his attention because of his wife There is still much to be desired in the life of a geisha, which Dalby only barley acknowledges. They have a peculiar place in Japan as they are regarded as one of the cultural treasures, and yet are simultaneously seen as something slightly too risqué and controversial.
Dalby hints at the idea of ‘working women’ in Japan, but otherwise does not acknowledge other ways for women to gain power in Japan. She presents a limiting dichotomy between wives and women of the ‘flower and willow world’. She barely touches on the way in which the powerful patriarchy of Japan limits all women, even those with the most freedom: geisha.
August 12, 2020
Geisha was quite the interesting book.
I'd had only heard of them in an anime a few years back but they are such an intresting concept (and of course individuals).
The book itself was informative and very comprehensible, although it strongly focused on Dalby's experience within the Japanese geisha communities. I do feel like it was educational enough about the topic but the feeling that I didn't get enough information about them keeps nagging at me.
The content was fascinating and geisha life sounds like a tale from another world to Western ears. I totally understand and agree on the fact that the social role of the Geishas would be impossible to implement the same way in the West.
I'd had only heard of them in an anime a few years back but they are such an intresting concept (and of course individuals).
The book itself was informative and very comprehensible, although it strongly focused on Dalby's experience within the Japanese geisha communities. I do feel like it was educational enough about the topic but the feeling that I didn't get enough information about them keeps nagging at me.
The content was fascinating and geisha life sounds like a tale from another world to Western ears. I totally understand and agree on the fact that the social role of the Geishas would be impossible to implement the same way in the West.
December 23, 2021
Geisha by Liza Dalby was an interesting and enlightening read. Her experiences and her original composition of the text are from the 1970s and 1980s. Therefore, some of her commentary on the general role of women/wives feels a little outdated thirty years on, as things have changed over that time. However, this book still offers great insight into the life of a geisha and how their roles and training have changed and/or stayed the same over the decades and centuries. The photographs and illustrations are a lovely addition to the text and the book is well presented, with topics introduced by theme chapter by chapter. This is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the geisha and Japanese culture in general.
March 23, 2024
I read it a long time ago. An amazing book. I was very drawn to the ending by the fairytale-like story of the geisha O-Yuki from Gion and the American millionaire George Morgan. I even surfed the Internet then for photographs of this couple. It turned out to be very difficult to find them, probably because this story happened in 1902, but I found them. Either way, they are incredible and it was exciting.
April 6, 2009
If you have ever read "Memoirs of a Geisha" then you should read this book too. Liza Dalby gives a whole different perspective on being a Geisha as she herself, a foreigner, became an actual geisha!! Excellent book!! What an eye-opener!
March 27, 2019
Geisha by Lisa Dalby.....An American anthropologist interested in Japanese culture, becomes a Geisha herself and gives the reader , the inside story of Geisha...Lisa Dalby's work is full of facts about the Geisha community. Who is a Geisha...What is the profession about...How does one become a Geisha..How does one survive in the profession...Can a Geisha marry?...What are her qualifications...What sort of attire does she sport and what is the significance of the same..How is a Geisha named...what is a shamisen...How important is a Geisha to the Japanese culture....All these and much much more are divulged by Lisa Dalby. You have to accept her take on Geisha for she had lived as one and shares authentic facts...She tries to bring a lil story line with the real life Geisha with whom she was associated and has managed to give an intriguing account....But ,I felt it was just another objectification of women per se...The book saddened me inspite of being mollycoddled as culture and society and class...Read about the Geisha ,yet another account of how a women is glorified and placed in a pedestal only to be used for the whims and fancies of a man in a chavanistic society...
May 20, 2008
I like this much, much more than Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha, but ti's still a bit problematic. A 1970's sociologist studying Japan's geisha culture, Liza Dalby presents an intriguing, nuanced look at the subject. Whether discussing the finer points of tying kimono or handling tipsy customers, Dalby manages to craft an engaging, elegant read that is insightful and illuminating. Part of me had trouble shaking the feeling that this was still vaguely Orientalist in its orientation, but her research is good and her writing sympathetic and well-stated. A very good read.
May 16, 2010
This is a fascinating book giving all kinds of insight into geisha life and Japanese culture. Liza Dalby studied geisha life as an anthropologist, and by living as a geisha. There were places where I found the narrative structure/underpinnng logic hard to follow, moving between subjects. The book is neither fully detached and academic, nor purely personal account, and sometimes the mingling of the two is awkward, and frequently it left me wanting more.
That said, there was much that I enjoyed, I learned a great deal, the images included were excellent, and mostly my problem was that wanted the book to be twice as big and laden with far more detail.
That said, there was much that I enjoyed, I learned a great deal, the images included were excellent, and mostly my problem was that wanted the book to be twice as big and laden with far more detail.
November 8, 2009
Fascinating first-hand account of an Australian woman who did participant/observer field work in Pontocho, Kyoto. She actually became a geiko (Kyoto-ben/language for geisha). Extremely detailed anthropological account of her time there in the late 70's. So, far, I am really appreciating how hard she works to show a balanced, academic viewpoint, and not devolve into overly glorifying shlock about geisha.
May 7, 2025
Beautiful. Everything you wanted to know about geisha, in a cross between lyrical narrative and thorough research work. I'm a history nerd and so I loved the rich account of a truly unique artistic culture and a lifestyle that is a geisha.
If I had a choice, I'd buy a copy of the book with high quality photos. Finding these images seems to be limited.
If I had a choice, I'd buy a copy of the book with high quality photos. Finding these images seems to be limited.
April 16, 2018
Interessantissimo e coinvolgente! Per chi ha visto e letto "Memorie di una Geisha", è come rituffarsi a capofitto nei vicoli di Kyoto, nelle case di mezzo secolo fa che ancora oggi resistono allo scorrere del tempo e sembrano quasi incastonate in un'altra dimensione! Lo consiglio davvero a tutti coloro che amano il Giappone profondamente come la sottoscritta e per tutti quelli che sono affascinati dall'universo femminile del Sol Levante!
March 31, 2025
Me ha gustado mucho cómo generaba en mi mente los escenarios cálidos y tan concretos del mundo de las geishas y de los lugares de Japón.
May 15, 2016
Magnificent! Dalby has written a VERY thorough book covering all aspect of geisha life, yet it's never dry or boring. It strikes the perfect balance between travelogue and dissertation--yes, there is plenty of fact and history and pondering of culture, but also plenty of humor, tragedy, and personal experience which serves to lighten the whole piece.
I have long admired geisha as "living museums" of traditional Japan, a tradition I will never see except through such deliberate cultivations. I've read several books on the subject. Yet Dalby's book went further back into history and deeper into every cultural aspect than any others I've stumbled across. If you truly want to understand geisha--their culture, their daily life, their history, and their place in modern Japanese society, this is the one-stop shop.
A pity though that the book was written in 1976. It would be interesting to know how different things are in the flower-and-willow world of the 2000s.
I have long admired geisha as "living museums" of traditional Japan, a tradition I will never see except through such deliberate cultivations. I've read several books on the subject. Yet Dalby's book went further back into history and deeper into every cultural aspect than any others I've stumbled across. If you truly want to understand geisha--their culture, their daily life, their history, and their place in modern Japanese society, this is the one-stop shop.
A pity though that the book was written in 1976. It would be interesting to know how different things are in the flower-and-willow world of the 2000s.
May 8, 2019
Overall, it was a well-written and fairly insightful book.
However, there are points where Dalby seems to conveniently forget that not all geisha neighborhoods (no matter how close they are/were on the map) had the same work practices, for instance. Dalby pushes the idea that, before it was outlawed, all geishas once offered their virginities to high bidders as part of "mizuage." However, Gion geisha, for instance, would never have done this. The term "mizuage" was also used to mean monthly earnings in general, so translators will often interpret it in a more "titillating" way, regardless of truth. (I highly recommend reading the chapter on geishas in Sheridan Prasso's book, "The Asian Mystique" for more about how Dalby got this wrong. I'm still reading it, but it seems really good so far.)
I was really hoping that Dalby would have done more to dispel the myth of the sex-selling geisha, but perhaps I was expecting too much.
However, there are points where Dalby seems to conveniently forget that not all geisha neighborhoods (no matter how close they are/were on the map) had the same work practices, for instance. Dalby pushes the idea that, before it was outlawed, all geishas once offered their virginities to high bidders as part of "mizuage." However, Gion geisha, for instance, would never have done this. The term "mizuage" was also used to mean monthly earnings in general, so translators will often interpret it in a more "titillating" way, regardless of truth. (I highly recommend reading the chapter on geishas in Sheridan Prasso's book, "The Asian Mystique" for more about how Dalby got this wrong. I'm still reading it, but it seems really good so far.)
I was really hoping that Dalby would have done more to dispel the myth of the sex-selling geisha, but perhaps I was expecting too much.
January 24, 2016
Great look inside world of geishas - women of art, "owners" of those feminine characteristics not considered in Japanese culture as owned or shouldn't been showned by wives like sexiness. Geishas are men's companions, but when they got married, they have to resign from being geisha.
Book explains differences in Japanese views on women taking in consideration their positions like wife, geisha or unmmaried woman. There are descriptions of ceremonies, status levels in The Flower and Willow World, things that a girl has to learn to become a geisha. It also gives an explaination about the fact that people from West (Europe, America) often treat geishas as exclusive prostitutes, which is very untrue. Geishas are entertainers. Liza Dalby wrote that in cities being popular resorts to spend holidays often existed a category of women that were acting like geishas, but were prostitutes.
Book explains differences in Japanese views on women taking in consideration their positions like wife, geisha or unmmaried woman. There are descriptions of ceremonies, status levels in The Flower and Willow World, things that a girl has to learn to become a geisha. It also gives an explaination about the fact that people from West (Europe, America) often treat geishas as exclusive prostitutes, which is very untrue. Geishas are entertainers. Liza Dalby wrote that in cities being popular resorts to spend holidays often existed a category of women that were acting like geishas, but were prostitutes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2009
I loved the book Memoirs of a Geisha as a fictional account and it was my first introduction to the Geisha lifestyle. I feel that Liza Dalby's "Geisha" is a book version of a FAQ on Geisha. Everything I ever wanted to know is in this book. I think the most interesting parts are when Ms. Dalby explains the differences between a prostitute and a geisha, although, with my westernized upbringing there are still some hazy areas. It was amazing that she, as a foreign woman, was allowed to train to become a Geisha for her research. I found the writing a bit disjointed at times and would have preferred the book to have been separated into two different books, the memoirs and the Geisha cultural study.
July 27, 2011
A fascinating insight into Japanese culture and the world of Geisha society. Dalby's research was started as a PhD project and adapted into this book after her thesis was finished. Her knowledge of Japanese culture, both inside and outside that of the Geisha community, is extensive and comes from many years of being immersed in that culture. Although primarily a look at the various Geisha communities opperating in Japan Dalby also makes observations on other aspects of the culture as they relate to the Flower and Willow world. While I struggled with some of the Japanese words the book is still very readable and a must for anyone interested in this nation.
May 20, 2015
A break from my usual reading, this was a very enjoyable and fairly intimate look into the world of Pontocho's geisha. It's a world about which there are many rumours and misunderstandings, and Dalby does a good job of sorting these things out. I especially enjoyed learning more about Japan and its culture, which has always intrigued me, and the chapter on the kimono was a pleasantly engrossing surprise (yes, I sew, and therefore should have expected to be so interested, but I digress). Most of all, though, I appreciated 'meeting' the people, mostly geisha, she lived with and learning about what life is generally like for them.
May 6, 2010
Halverwege heb ik het boek weggelegd.....
De inhoud vind ik op zich boeiend en ik wil graag ook meer weten over "geisha". Alleen heb ik bij het lezen van dit boek steeds het gevoel dat ik eerst een ander boek had moeten lezen om echt goed mee te kunnen (terwijl er geen "eerste" boek is). De auteur schrijft nogal chaotisch en houdt geen chronologische volgorde aan (welke volgorde precies heb ik niet kunnen ontdekken).
Lezen is voor mij ook een vorm van ontspanning en op deze manier erger ik me meer dan me ontspannen.....
Jammer dus.
De inhoud vind ik op zich boeiend en ik wil graag ook meer weten over "geisha". Alleen heb ik bij het lezen van dit boek steeds het gevoel dat ik eerst een ander boek had moeten lezen om echt goed mee te kunnen (terwijl er geen "eerste" boek is). De auteur schrijft nogal chaotisch en houdt geen chronologische volgorde aan (welke volgorde precies heb ik niet kunnen ontdekken).
Lezen is voor mij ook een vorm van ontspanning en op deze manier erger ik me meer dan me ontspannen.....
Jammer dus.
June 3, 2010
I read this book while living in Japan (before "Memoirs of a Geisha" was published). We visited Kyoto often during our 31 Months there, and Liza'a insight helped inform our experience. We were fascinted and interested in reading about other westerners' experiences adjusting to the Japanese cultural. (Visiting Japan is VERY different than living there!)
It is an interesting insight into the hidden world of the geisha. This way of life is dying since younger women aren't interested. So, records of 'how it was' are worth exploring.
It is an interesting insight into the hidden world of the geisha. This way of life is dying since younger women aren't interested. So, records of 'how it was' are worth exploring.
March 23, 2011
This is a really interesting book written by an American anthropologist who went to Japan and actually become a geisha. It's a really interesting insight not just into the geisha life but its cultural context as well - the history, politics, literature, class structure. The author, known as the geisha Ichigiku, really has a great love and fascination for her subject and it really shows in this book. I found it endlessly fascinating. And it's making me want to go and read Memoirs of a Geisha again.
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