Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/12/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Nathan....... What is a Tayu? Hmmm, that is a very difficult question. In general..... in old Japan... extending into today at least in some part... a Tayu is a very very high class 'entertainer'. By high class, I mean they were almost the exclusive domain of the Imperial family, and or, the highest of the high nobelmen and other court officials. By 'entertainer', I mean they sang, and danced and performed very polished and subtle dramas or plays for their audiences. Tayu were considered courteseans. They are sometimes refered to as "special geisha", or maybe even just as geisha.. but a Tayu is certainly a higher status or status than a geisha. They were, and are, very rare, very cultured and extraordinarily revered for their skills and talents. To put this into context perhaps... a geisha is also an entertainer of the rich and famous.. whereas a Tayu is an entertainer of the richest of the rich, or the Imperial household itself. It is hard to explain, since there is no western equilivant to Tayu.. or even geisha for that matter. They are a genuine piece of the past, which date back to the days of the first Tokugawa Shoguns. As I think I mentioned earlier, there are only 5 of them who practice the art of Tayu in Japan today. The Tayu in the photo is being spoken about as a candidate of being designated as a "Living National Treasure" in Japan, a rare and very distinctive honor. Hope this helps. Sorry for the kinda murkey explanation.. but it is a strange thing. But if you look at some famous old Japanese woodblock prints... usually, they depicted a Tayu of some rank. Jim G. - --------------------------------------------------- J.A. Gatlin Photography My Work in Black & White http://www.jagatlin.com - --------------------------------------------------- - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nathan Wajsman" <wajsman@webshuttle.ch> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 10:29 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] From this weekend > Very nice portrait, James. I would like some more information about the > art--I gather it is a traditional Japanese performing art, but exactly > what is it, and what is a Tayu? > > Nathan - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html