Search This Blog

2016/07/30

Yoshiwara: No.1 venereal Street of Edo period in Japan

中文请看:日本江户时代第一的花柳街:吉原

Yoshiwara was No.1 venereal Street of Edo period in Japan. It locates arround 3 Chome-4 Senzoku, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō. In 1966, name of Yoshiwara was aborted by law, but some viewpoint are left.

History of Yoshiwara

In 1617, Yoshiwara was setted by General Tokukawa in Nihombashi-ningyōchō. It's a government business and sex workers were sort of owned by General Tokukawa.

In 1657, Yoshiwara was burned by Great Fire of Meireki. Then Yoshiwara moved to Asakusa, so now when say Yoshiwara means Yoshiwara in Asakusa. Yoshiwara once be the origin of culture and fashion in Edo period. 


In 1765, the sex work is forbidden in venereal area of Shinakawa、Itabashi and Senju, but increase sex workers in Yoshiwara.


In 1842, except Yoshiwara all sex business are forbidden.

In Meiji period, although sex worker can get free by law, but still not much chances to be free. In 1911/4/9, 
Yoshiwara is burned out by Great Fire of  Yoshiwara, but rebuild quickly.(About Great Fire of Meireki, please check:https://fareasttalks.blogspot.jp/2016/07/yoshiwara-fire.html)

Until after World War II, SCAP forbad official sex worker. Then Yoshiwara disapears forever.

Yoshiwara Culture in Edo

In Edo period, the hairstyle and clothes of women in Yoshiwara leaded the popular fashion and interact to Kabuki. So you can find out that Kabuki makeup looks similar to Yoshiwara  women.
The love story is always popular.

Movie

《Memoirs of a Geisha》

Viewpoints

Yoshiwara-tote:now is named by Nihon-zutsumi.

Emonzaka:Small hill frome Yoshiwara-tote to Yoshiwara.There's a saying that in order to be unseen when General passed by Yoshiwara for worshiping ancestors to Hiko, it is designed be an S route.


Oomon:There is only one door in Yoshiwara for public safety andprevent the escape of prostitutes. Burned in 1911, only a cross and a station named Yoshiwara-oomon left now.

Jokanji(じょうかんじ):In north of Yoshiwara, bury women who worked in Yoshiwara.

Shingenji(しんげんじ)

Access

Old Yoshiwara:Nihombashi-ningyōchō(Burned)
New Yoshiwara:Asakusa
  • JR East Japan - Yamanote-Line/Keihin-tōhoku-Line:Uguisudani station
  • Tokyo metro Hibiya-Line:Iriya station、Minowa station
Find more related post by using label in end of post, please.

No comments:

︿
Top