““Floating World”Floating World”Ukiyo-eUkiyo-e

1615-18681615-1868'Living only for the moment, turning our full 'Living only for the moment, turning our full

attention to the pleasures of the moon, sun, the attention to the pleasures of the moon, sun, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves, singing cherry blossoms and the maple leaves, singing songs, drinking wine, and diverting ourselves songs, drinking wine, and diverting ourselves

just in floating, floating." just in floating, floating."

Edo in the Tokugawa Edo in the Tokugawa periodperiod

The floating world referred to the escapist The floating world referred to the escapist lifestyle and ephemeral pleasures offered lifestyle and ephemeral pleasures offered in Edo's kabuki theaters and the in Edo's kabuki theaters and the Yoshiwara, a licensed brothel district on Yoshiwara, a licensed brothel district on the northern outskirts of the city.the northern outskirts of the city.

With star actors and glamorous With star actors and glamorous courtesans as their primary subjects, courtesans as their primary subjects, ukiyo-e artists conveyed the intricate ukiyo-e artists conveyed the intricate nuances of the floating world to an nuances of the floating world to an appreciative and diverse clientele. Being appreciative and diverse clientele. Being especially attuned to popular pastimes especially attuned to popular pastimes and pursuits, they also exploited the and pursuits, they also exploited the public's love of travel and its fascination public's love of travel and its fascination with samurai history. with samurai history.

By the early nineteenth century, the By the early nineteenth century, the repertoire of floating world images repertoire of floating world images included landscapes and warrior prints. included landscapes and warrior prints. as well as illustrated books and prints for as well as illustrated books and prints for children. children.

YoshiwaraYoshiwara During the early years of the 17th century, the Shogun Hideyoshi During the early years of the 17th century, the Shogun Hideyoshi

and later Tokugawa authorities in Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka passed and later Tokugawa authorities in Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka passed reforms that licensed and consolidated brothels into a single area reforms that licensed and consolidated brothels into a single area of the city which was initially remote from the center. of the city which was initially remote from the center.

In Kyoto this quarter became known as the Shimabara; in Osaka, In Kyoto this quarter became known as the Shimabara; in Osaka, the Shimmachi; and in Edo, the Yoshiwara. Although all three the Shimmachi; and in Edo, the Yoshiwara. Although all three quarters were organized in the same basic fashion, it was the quarters were organized in the same basic fashion, it was the name yoshiwara that became synonymous with the concept of a name yoshiwara that became synonymous with the concept of a "pleasure quarter.“"pleasure quarter.“

The brothels were surrounded by earthen walls, and in Kyoto, a The brothels were surrounded by earthen walls, and in Kyoto, a moat three meters wide. A single entrance gate ensured moat three meters wide. A single entrance gate ensured surveillance of those entering the quarter in an attempt at surveillance of those entering the quarter in an attempt at preventing ronin, masterless samurai, from seeking refuge within. preventing ronin, masterless samurai, from seeking refuge within. The intent was also to prevent prostitutes from plying their trade The intent was also to prevent prostitutes from plying their trade outside the walls of the designated precincts of the city.outside the walls of the designated precincts of the city.

Business districts for the supporting trades and other forms of Business districts for the supporting trades and other forms of entertainment rapidly developed around the designated districts, entertainment rapidly developed around the designated districts, and this secluded quarter of the city, free of the traditional class and this secluded quarter of the city, free of the traditional class distinctions, was governed by a free-market economy under distinctions, was governed by a free-market economy under standards and ethics developed by its residents.standards and ethics developed by its residents.

Back Alleys in EdoBack Alleys in Edo

Yoshiwara girls on displayYoshiwara girls on display

A life less fortunateA life less fortunate The Yoshiwara was home to some 1,750 women in the The Yoshiwara was home to some 1,750 women in the

1700s, with records of some 3,000 women from all over 1700s, with records of some 3,000 women from all over Japan at one time. The area had over 9,000 women, many Japan at one time. The area had over 9,000 women, many of whom suffered from syphilis, in 1893.of whom suffered from syphilis, in 1893.

These women were often sold to the brothels by their These women were often sold to the brothels by their parents at the age of about seven to twelve. If the young parents at the age of about seven to twelve. If the young girl was lucky, she would become an apprentice to a high girl was lucky, she would become an apprentice to a high ranking courtesan. When the girl was old enough and had ranking courtesan. When the girl was old enough and had completed her training, she would become a courtesan completed her training, she would become a courtesan herself and work her way up the ranks.herself and work her way up the ranks.

The girls often had a contract to the brothel for only about The girls often had a contract to the brothel for only about five to ten years, but massive debt often kept them in the five to ten years, but massive debt often kept them in the brothels their entire life. There were very few ways for a brothels their entire life. There were very few ways for a young lady to get out of the brothel due to all of her debt. young lady to get out of the brothel due to all of her debt.

Yoshiwara in 2006Yoshiwara in 2006

The "floating world" was a refuge The "floating world" was a refuge from the rigid, hierarchical society of from the rigid, hierarchical society of feudal Japan. For the artist it brought feudal Japan. For the artist it brought a degree of freedom of association a degree of freedom of association and expression unheard of in highly and expression unheard of in highly polished and defined classical polished and defined classical traditions. traditions.

For the merchant, the "nightless cities" were the only arena For the merchant, the "nightless cities" were the only arena where his money bought a measure of social equality. where his money bought a measure of social equality. Outside its narrow confines, the merchant was the lowest of Outside its narrow confines, the merchant was the lowest of the low -- according to official Confucian philosophy, a mere the low -- according to official Confucian philosophy, a mere "mover of goods," who ranked below the artisan, the "mover of goods," who ranked below the artisan, the peasant and the samurai. In a social order in which every peasant and the samurai. In a social order in which every aspect of life was formally prescribed in written codes, only aspect of life was formally prescribed in written codes, only the samurai was allowed to have a surname and to carry the samurai was allowed to have a surname and to carry two swords.two swords.

A merchant may have been rich but he had no political A merchant may have been rich but he had no political status or power and was subject to the arbitrary whims of status or power and was subject to the arbitrary whims of the shogun and daimyo. It was only in Yoshihara and the the shogun and daimyo. It was only in Yoshihara and the other licenced quarters that the merchant could entertain other licenced quarters that the merchant could entertain lavishly and forge alliances with layers of the samurai class lavishly and forge alliances with layers of the samurai class who lacked money but still retained a far higher social who lacked money but still retained a far higher social standing.standing.

Theatre Tea HousesTheatre Tea Houses

Kabuki OriginsKabuki Origins Kabuki came into existence Kabuki came into existence

around 1603 with the arrival in around 1603 with the arrival in Kyoto of a troupe of dancing Kyoto of a troupe of dancing girls led by a certain Izumo-no-girls led by a certain Izumo-no-Okuni, formerly a shrine Okuni, formerly a shrine maiden.maiden.

Their dances created a Their dances created a sensation and were labelled sensation and were labelled "Kabuki" which, at that time, "Kabuki" which, at that time, meant "unorthodox" or meant "unorthodox" or "eccentric"."eccentric".

Such troupes of women were Such troupes of women were subsequently banned as were subsequently banned as were those of the dancing boys that those of the dancing boys that took their place.took their place.

They were succeeded by They were succeeded by groups of adult men whose groups of adult men whose performances developed into performances developed into Kabuki as it now existsKabuki as it now exists

Kabuki and OnnagataKabuki and Onnagata

Aragato and WagatoAragato and Wagato

Kabuki performance in 1860Kabuki performance in 1860

BunrakuBunraku BunrakuBunraku is a form of is a form of

traditional Japanese puppet traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in theater, founded in Osaka in 16841684

Three kinds of performers Three kinds of performers

take part in a bunraku take part in a bunraku performance:performance:

Puppeteers Puppeteers the chanters the chanters Shamisen players Shamisen players

In the mid 18In the mid 18thth century, century, kabuki fell out of favor for a kabuki fell out of favor for a time, with bunraku taking its time, with bunraku taking its place as the premier form of place as the premier form of stage entertainment among stage entertainment among the lower social classes the lower social classes

Noh TheatreNoh Theatre

Shite- primary actor

Waki or foil

chorus

musicians

Noh MasksNoh Masks

Several types of masks, in particular Several types of masks, in particular those for female roles, are designed so those for female roles, are designed so that slight adjustments in the position that slight adjustments in the position of the head can express a number of the head can express a number emotions such as fear or sadness due emotions such as fear or sadness due to the variance in lighting and the angle to the variance in lighting and the angle shown towards the audience. With shown towards the audience. With some of the more extravagant masks some of the more extravagant masks for deities and monsters, however, it is for deities and monsters, however, it is not always possible to convey emotion. not always possible to convey emotion.

Changing emotionsChanging emotions

The The cha-shitsucha-shitsu 'teahouse,' 'teahouse,' soansoan 'tea hut,' or 'tea hut,' or zashikizashiki 'tea room,' was a place to leave all of the 'tea room,' was a place to leave all of the world's turmoil behind, and to enter a place of world's turmoil behind, and to enter a place of total calm and relaxation. The cha-shitsu could be total calm and relaxation. The cha-shitsu could be a small stand-alone structure, or an attached tea-a small stand-alone structure, or an attached tea-room, with a room, with a tatamitatami floor. floor.

Tea houses were built primarily by Tea houses were built primarily by daimyodaimyo (feudal (feudal lords), Samurai warriors, wealthy merchants, Zen lords), Samurai warriors, wealthy merchants, Zen Buddhist monks. The small guest's entrance-door Buddhist monks. The small guest's entrance-door (below, left) called a '(below, left) called a 'nijiriguchinijiriguchi' or ' or nijiri nijiri agariguchiagariguchi is a 'wriggle-in' or 'crawl-through' is a 'wriggle-in' or 'crawl-through' entrance with a standardized measurement of entrance with a standardized measurement of 65cm tall, by 60cm wide65cm tall, by 60cm wide

Tea Houses of the Tokugawa Tea Houses of the Tokugawa periodperiod

Tea CeremonyTea Ceremony

Woodblock print processWoodblock print process

Early picturesEarly pictures

The Golden AgeThe Golden Age The second Edo The second Edo

Culture boom Culture boom occured during the occured during the Tenmei era (1781-Tenmei era (1781-1789). 1789).

The Tenmei culture The Tenmei culture is a product of is a product of townspeople, and townspeople, and they enjoyed the they enjoyed the elaborate festivals elaborate festivals of the years. The of the years. The kabuki stage and kabuki stage and pleasure quarters pleasure quarters flourished in Edoflourished in Edo

‘‘One Hundred Views of Edo”One Hundred Views of Edo”

Age of DecadenceAge of Decadence The Golden Age of Edo culture The Golden Age of Edo culture

came to an end with a strict came to an end with a strict reform called Kansei Reform, reform called Kansei Reform, and the Age of Decadence and the Age of Decadence arrived. arrived.

The major concerns among The major concerns among the Shogunate were foreign the Shogunate were foreign affairs, instead of national affairs, instead of national policies. policies. There was an There was an increasingly frequent menace increasingly frequent menace of foreign intrusion. of foreign intrusion.

The freshness of the earlier The freshness of the earlier cultural life was lost, and all cultural life was lost, and all feelings of freedom and feelings of freedom and mental detachment were mental detachment were swept away.swept away.

An over-complex and twisted An over-complex and twisted sort of art was welcomed, and sort of art was welcomed, and people enjoyed this new type people enjoyed this new type of culture. The culture of culture. The culture continued until the end of the continued until the end of the Edo period.Edo period.

Kansei ReformsKansei Reforms The Kansei Reform was the second reform among The Kansei Reform was the second reform among

three reforms conducted during the Tokugawa three reforms conducted during the Tokugawa period. The government strictly controlled public period. The government strictly controlled public morals, thoughts, lives and choice of studies. They morals, thoughts, lives and choice of studies. They punished anyone who, the government thought, punished anyone who, the government thought, corrupted public morals, and many novelists were corrupted public morals, and many novelists were punished during the reform. punished during the reform.

Even after the failure, the government still Even after the failure, the government still continued controlling the public morals, and they continued controlling the public morals, and they began to punish ukiyoe artists who drew the topics began to punish ukiyoe artists who drew the topics which, the government thought, would corrupt the which, the government thought, would corrupt the public morals.public morals.

Artists were forced to change their topics and felt Artists were forced to change their topics and felt that they lost their freedom. Some had their hands that they lost their freedom. Some had their hands placed in chains for 50 daysplaced in chains for 50 days