The Grave of a Courtesan.
The Grave of a Courtesan.
Golgatha.Golgatha.
Golgatha.
The following sad description of the last hours, death, and burial of an inmate of the Yoshiwara is gleaned from the “Yūkwaku no Rimen� (�廓���) published in 1903:—
“Even in the case of a courtesan who for a time has been famous as the star of her brothel, and who has become so skilful that she has robbed many men of their very souls, what will her ultimate fate probably be when suddenly attacked by a serious disease? I believe that there is no fate more piteous than that of a courtesan whose body has been sold to this prostitute quarter from a distant province, and who finds herself, sad and lonely, without a single acquaintance or relative, and with none to whom she can look for aid!
“Now that she is sick and has given up her business for one or two months, the myriads of guests, who formerly came crowding to see her in a never-ending stream while she was yet elegantly attired and beautiful to behold with her comely face and perfectly pencilled eyebrows, do not send her even asingle letter. The servants who called her ‘Oiran,Oiran’70when she was in the zenith of her pride and popularity, and who served her obsequiously in consideration of the many gifts she lavished upon them, gradually become unaccommodating and churlish. But that is by no means all, for they even speak ill of her and backbite her. Then she falls into low spirits, and alone by herself she writhes in solitary agony. Her debit account for medicine increases. There is no one to soothe or comfort her, and indeed it is impossible to imagine how great is her misery as she dozes uneasily upon her pillow, in this unhappy place, among things hard to bear and painful to hear.
“In this manner her sickness increases in severity, and finally, falling into a state which offers no hope of recovery, she can only await the awful approach of death. Our imaginations fails to picture the unhappy state of the wretched courtesan who is about to draw her last breath, lying on a cold hard thin mattress in a miserable and lonely little room beneath the back staircase of the brothel, without a soul in the world to help the absolutely forsaken creature. When death is about to enter through the torn paper-covered windows of her room, there is no light in the chamber, and all is dark as pitch. In the upper portion of the house singing girls are probably playing merrily upon theirsamisen(banjo), while dancing-girls are dancing and frisking to the music. The sounds of boisterous laughter, music, and cheerful voices pierce the ears of the sick woman and grate upon her nerves, and she, lying in misery at the very point of death, with noneto attend or nurse her, totters on the brink of the grave writhing and struggling in pain and anguish, and when she breathes her last she is mocked in the hour of her mortal agony by the babel of voices telling of licentious joy and happiness and voluptuous pleasure. Her limbs grow cold and rigid, her eyes, which have lost the light of life, become dull and glazed, and, remaining wide open, stare horribly into the darkness. Just at this moment some courtesan who has come down the stairs for a sitz-bath, or a brothel hag (yarite) coming along the passage, noticing that the faint noise of breathing has ceased, and wondering if anything has happened, may open the door and look in and exclaim—‘Ah! all is over.’ That is about all the expression of astonishment which will be ejaculated, and although perchance two or three of her courtesan friends may shed a few tears of sympathy and pity, this ends the matter. The brothel keeper immediately states that there is no one to take delivery of the corpse, and, without even waiting for the dawn, the mortal remains are hurriedly born away to the crematorium and disappear forever in the smoke of the furnace. Ah! what a fearful and cruel thing this is to contemplate!
“And to where are the calcined bones carried, and where are they interred?
“If there be any person who desires to know where the white bones of the miserable courtesan are going, and who wishes to follow the unhappy woman to the end of her terrible fate, I beg that he will go out of the great gateway of the Yoshiwara—where the flower has withered and fallen—past the Go-jikken-d�ri road, up the Emon-zaka hill, and grope his way along to the left of the dike at Dote-Hatch�.
“Before the eyes of the traveller spreads out on both sides of the dike a vista of beautiful fields and gardens. On the right, so far as the eye can see, separated by vast stretches of irrigated rice-fields, rise to varying heights the rows of the roofs of the brothels of Kotsugappara and Senju. Passing by this cluster of habitations, there are clumps of green trees and bamboo groves. Further on, if the weather be clear and fair, the white sails of craft on the upper part of the stream of the Sumida river can be faintly discerned, and, of course, the purple mountain of Tsukuba-yama can be seen among the clouds. Glancing around to the left of the dike, there will be noticed towns composed of tenant houses lately erected on ground reclaimed from the fields. Between the trees may be seen here and there the high roofs of various temples. The sight of the forest which crowns the high ridge of land reaching from Ueno to Higurashi and on to D�kwan-yama creates a pleasing sensation in the mind. As one goes on among this beautiful scenery, he at length nears the gate of the slaughter-houses, and his nostrils are assailed by the scent of blood borne on the breeze. Going on a little further beyond the dike, a road commences which forms an old fashioned avenue with rows of trees on both sides. Having arrived at this point, if one turns round and glances back he will be able to see, between the trees, just the numerous roofs of the Yoshiwara prostitute-quarter stretching out all over. The lofty buildings of the quarter, such as the clock-tower of the “Ebi-ya,� “Hikota,� and the “Shinagawa� rise up in such conspicuous majesty that one imagines that he is looking at some great castle-town. Quickening one’s steps, and going on one or twoch�more, the dike disappears, and you see the railway embankment crossingdiagonally in front. Beneath this railroad line stands a temple, and this temple is indeed the place where the unfortunate courtesan is doomed to have her bones decay and rot! By the left side of the bank oozes a little dirty ditch-like stream, spanned by a small old-fashioned stone bridge. This stream skirts the temple grounds, and, washing the luxuriant growth of wild bamboo grass which overgrows into boundaries, disappears at the back of the railway track. Pleased with the extreme quietness and privacy of the place, you cross the little bridge and come to a black gateway which you recognize as that of theJ�-Kan-jitemple. Ah! theJo-Kan-jiat Minowa! Men of the world with their loves and hates, even if they have not already explored the actual place itself, have probably become acquainted with its name through the various books they have read.
Tombs of Courtesan and Guest who Committed Suicide together on the 1st October, 1880.
Tombs of Courtesan and Guest who Committed Suicide together on the 1st October, 1880.
“Having entered the gate, you will see a little hut where flowers are sold. Proceeding to the rear of the not very largehond�(main temple) by the left side of the building, you will come to a place thickly studded with numberless graves, tombstones andsotoba(stûpa). Near the thicket-like hedge, and here and there between the tombstones, stand clumps of gnarled and anciente-no-kitrees whose branches quiver sadly and mournfully as the wind soughs through them with a plaintive sobbing sound like the burthen of a requiem. Glancing at the well-nigh undecipherable inscription carved on the first tombstone that meets the eye, we can trace a posthumous name such as柳生院花容童女之墓(Ryū-sho-in Kway�-d�j� no haka,) or the words ◻◻樓代々�墓(the family grave of the _______ brothel). Or we may even see stones on which two names are carved together, one name being that of a man andone that of a woman. None of these stones are more than two or three feet in height—they are all small and dirty—and for a very long period of time no incense has been burned or flowers offered before them.
“Going on into the heart of this lonesome place one at length arrives behind the main temple. Here the whole surface of the earth is damp and humid, and a dismal grave-like smell of mouldy earth pervades the locality. Probably the sunshine has never penetrated to this spot for centuries. The dead leaves of thee-no-kitrees have been allowed to lie as they have fallen year after year, so they have piled up, crumbled, mouldered, and rotted on the dark ground, and from the purulent mildewed soil have sprung into being myriads of weird uncanny poisonous toadstools and foul fungi fearful and horrid in shape and strangely ghastly in colour. Ah!, what a desolate uncanny appearance the place has; persons visiting it soon experience a deep sense of commiseration and sympathy, and feel as if they had entered a chilly underground vault. In this gloomy dismal place lie the bones of the courtesan who only up to yesterday resembled a beautiful butterfly or lovely blossom when seen in all the glory of her gorgeous apparel, with her glossy black hair ornamented with gold and her snowy-white body clad in rich brocade robes now exchanged for the cerements of death.
“And look! at the rear of two greate-no-kitrees rises a high stone wall. Upon it stands a stone column bearing the six Chinese characters新�原無緣墓(Shin Yoshiwara Mu-en-dzuka) “The tomb of those of the Shin Yoshiwara who are without kith or kin.� Around it is a rank growth of various weeds and grasses, and near by still stands undecayed a hugestûpawhich was erected as an offering to the spirits of the dead at the time of the great earthquake of the 2nd year of the Ansei period (1855).
The “Mu-en-dzuka� in the “J�-kan-ji� temple at Minowa.
The “Mu-en-dzuka� in the “J�-kan-ji� temple at Minowa.
“As a matter of fact such things really do occur, but the courtesan who is thus buried in theMu-en-dzukamust be counted as the most truly unfortunate, because most of the women are given burial in the family burying places of the brothel-keepers, while the bodies of those who cannot obtain even this latter consideration, who are from a far country and without a friend to take delivery of their remains, are carried stealthily out of the back entrance of the brothels in the grey light of the dawn, and here transformed into a heap of grisly bones. In any case the end of these brothel women is very sad and lamentable, and looked at from this point of view there is indeed nothing so miserable or so awful as the brothel quarter.�
Five Curious Legal Documents actually used in the Yoshiwara in 1902.
(No. 1.)
Agreement.
Whereas I _______________, being unable to maintain myself, have consented to _______________’s practising prostitution in your establishment for the purpose of aiding in my support, it is hereby agreed as follows:—
Art.1.—I acknowledge and confirm the fact that I have consented to _______________’s practising prostitution in your house for a period of _______________.
Art.2.—I hereby acknowledge the receipt of the sum of Yen _______________ which you have advanced to me at the rate of _______________ per annum as regards interest.
Art.3.—The principal and interest mentioned in the proceeding Article shall be repaid out of _______________’s income derived by her in her practice of prostitution. Provided that her entertainment fee per head shall be fixed at ____, whereof _______________ is to be given to her as pocket-money, and the balance of _______________ is to be applied to the repayment of principal and interest.
With regard to the “entertainment fee� mentioned in the proceeding paragraph, it is agreed that you may, at your convenience, either increase or decrease the rate, and that even in such case the money is to be applied according to the same proportion as that mentioned in the said preceding paragraph.
The portion of her earnings hereinbefore mentioned as yours is to be applied for the expenses of maintaining theYoshiwara Hospital and other fixed expenses; but the cost of board while in the hospital is to be paid by herself.
If at any future time further advances are made by you, or if you kindly disburse for us the cost of medicine and the expenses of board in the hospital, such monies shall be repaid in the following order and manner:—
Art.4.—It is further agreed that she will, of course, lodge in your house and practice the business faithfully during the term of the agreement, that she will strictly observe the regulations relating to the business, and any other Articles or customs which should be respected for the regulation of the brothel-quarters; and further that, no matter what be the circumstances, she will neither relinquish or suspend the business nor change her lodging place until both the principal and interest of the liability towards yourself are finally cleared off. Provided, however, that in case you should, at your convenience, alienate your brothel-keeping business, or require us to change the lodging-place, your directions will be respected and no objection to the change will be raised against your wishes, except for proper and valid reasons.
Art.5.—My portion of the profit being determined according to the rate specified in paragraph 1 of Article 3 hereof, I shall not be interested or concerned in respect to any other income derived in connection with your brothel-keeping business.
Art.6.—With regard to any personal property belonging to _____________ it is agreed that the same is pledged assecurity for the loan mentioned in Article 2 hereof, irrespective as to whether it is now actually in existence or may be acquired at any future time in the course of practising the business; and the said property shall be neither taken out, delivered to others, pledged, sold, nor otherwise alienated.
Art.7.—In case _______________ falls ill before the loan from you is cleared off and consequently cannot practice the business, she shall undergo a medical examination by a physician at the Yoshiwara Hospital; and if his diagnosis shows that there is no prospect of her being able to resume her calling, it is agreed that the pledged articles belonging to the said _______________ shall be sold by you in the presence of one of the guarantors, and that the proceeds of the sale shall be applied to the repayment of the principal and interest of the loan. In case any deficiency arises, the liability in respect thereto will be undertaken and fulfilled jointly and severally by the guarantors and the principal, the said guarantors assuming joint and several liability among themselves.
Art.8.—Should the principal party abscond, conceal her whereabouts, etc., the guarantors will forthwith enquire after her and bring her back to resume her business; and as to the time which has elapsed during the period of her desertion, application will be made forthwith to the Police Station for the purpose of having the term of agreement mentioned in her license extended by the number of days during which she was absent, and of procuring renewal of the said license. If her whereabouts cannot be ascertained, or if she dies, the pledged articles belonging to her are to be sold by you in the presence of one of her guarantors and the proceeds to be applied to the repayment of the principal, and interest of the loan. Anydeficiency will be made good by the guarantors and the principal all being jointly and severally responsible, and the guarantors undertaking the liability jointly and severally among themselves. In case of the death of the principal, the guarantors will take delivery of her corpse.
Art.9.—Should there be any portion of the loan standing unpaid at the time of the maturity of the term of the agreement, you are at liberty to sell the pledged articles belonging to the said _______________ and to apply the proceeds towards the repayment of such unpaid portion of the loan. Any deficiency arising will be made good by the guarantors themselves, and you will be protected against any loss or annoyance.
Art.10.—It is specially agreed that in case any of these Articles should be infringed, or should any other dispute arise between the parties, the case shall be considered as within the jurisdiction of either the T�ky� Local or District Court.
The above Articles of Agreement being duly accepted by the parties, we hereby undertake not to infringe the provisions thereof; and in order to avoid future misunderstanding and trouble, we have drawn up this document and signed and sealed the same hereunder.
Dated _______________
(Signatures) _______________
(No. 2.)
Deed of Loan.
The sum of Yen _______________ together with interest at the rate of _______________ per annum.
We hereby acknowledge that the above sum of money has been borrowed from you to meet the requirements for ____________’scarrying on of the business of a prostitute. Repayment of the money will be made according to the provisions of an agreement dated ________________, and we have therefore no objection to your treating the matter accordingly.
In order to avoid future misunderstanding and trouble, we have drawn up this document and signed and sealed it hereunder.
Dated _______________
(Signatures) _______________
(No. 3.)
Power of Attorney.
I, _______________, being about to commence business as a prostitute at _______________ in the Urban Prefecture of T�ky�, hereby give and grant unto _______________ the following powers:—
1.—To manage all matters connected with the application for a license for practising as a prostitute, and to sign and seal as attorney for me all necessary papers and documents.
2.—To contract any further loan or loans from the brothel-keeper, while I am practising as a prostitute, to the actual amount of Yen ___________, and to sign and seal as my attorney the documents relative to such loan or loans.
3.—In case of the alteration of the lodging-place at the convenience of the brothel-keeper, to borrow money from the new brothel-keeper, to determine the manner in which the money is to be repaid, to enter into any other agreement or contract in connection with the practice of the business of a prostitute, to sign and seal as my attorney various papers and documents, and to perform any other acts or deeds.
4.—To manage all my personal affairs while I am practicing prostitution.
5.—To appoint a substitute to manage or perform any of the matters entrusted to you.
I hereby certify that the above matters are duly entrusted to you, and beg that you will manage everything in accordance with the regulations; I pledge you my word that I will not raise any objection at any future time to anything which may have been done by you in the premises; and it is further specially agreed that this power of attorney will not be cancelled unless with your consent.
In witness whereof, I have drawn up this power of attorney and signed and sealed the same hereunder.
Dated _______________
(Signature) _______________
(No. 4.)
Resolution of the Family Council.
Resolved:—
Art 1.—That permission is given to _______________ to practice as a prostitute in the Urban Prefecture of T�ky�.
Art. 2.—That _______________ may borrow the sum of __________ from _______________, a brothel-keeper, contract any further loans not exceeding the actual amount of _______________, and enter into an agreement (as per draft) hereto attached.
Art. 3.—That in case the brothel-keeper ______________ alienates the brothel-keeping business at his convenience, or causes ______________, change her lodging place, ___________ may borrow from the new brothel-keeper the sum of Yen _______ or contract any further loan not exceeding the amount of Yen ______________, he may determine in the exercise of his discretion the manner in which the repayment of the loans areto be paid, enter into further various agreements relating to the practice of the business of a prostitute, and do any and all other acts and deeds in connection therewith.
Art. 4.—That for the purpose of performing any acts or deeds in relation to Articles 2 and 3, ____________________ may appoint any substitute under him and give to such substitute power to perform all such acts and deeds.
Date _______________
(Signatures) _______________
(No. 5.)
Letter of Request.
________________ being now prepared to practice as a prostitute, I am very much obliged to you for your kind consent to my request to guarantee the agreement. Under these circumstances, I promise that I will respect and observe the said agreement and not cause you any trouble whatsoever. When it is necessary to sign and seal papers filed with the proper authorities in connection with the practice of prostitution, I beg that you will kindly sign and seal the same, and that you will, when necessary, sign and seal the documentsreadditional loans as attorney for ___________, and kindly guarantee the repayment of the said loans. I further request that you will look after her in all matters affecting her interests while engaged in the business of prostitution. If you act as above, the principal party will never act contrary to your directions, and ___________ too will raise no objections.
In witness whereof, I have hereby drawn up this letter of request and signed and sealed the same hereunder.
Dated _______________
(Signature) _______________
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