Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art [Hardcover]

John Gallagher (Author), Wayne Reynolds (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2003

"Rises above many of its competitors, thanks to its ambitious scope...The book's photos and illustrations are frequently stunning....Gallagher's writing style is straightforward and articulate, with so much intelligence and grace, it's difficult not to be charmed."--Publishers Weekly

Take a fascinating peek into the geisha's world of tradition and ritual with the help of a most unique book. Four see-through vellum sections, of four layers each, begin with a "naked" geisha; they show, stage by stage, how her distinctive costume and make-up are assembled. You'll view the subtle changes of appearance through the round of seasonal events, and the elaborate array of equipment in the geisha's wardrobe, as well as everything she needs to do her demanding jobs. Equally revealing is the incredibly detailed information about the women's training, lives, and history.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gallagher's contribution to the geisha book niche rises above many of its competitors, thanks to its ambitious scope. The author, an Englishman who works as a translator in Japan, closely examines a tradition and way of life alien to most outside Japan and seems to leave nothing out, covering such topics as the perception of geishas by both Japanese and foreigners, geishas' artistic and musical talents, and the organizational structure of an okiya (geisha house). Of course, there's also much about the clothes and makeup. Geishas are constructed layer by layer, both figuratively and literally. Various levels of schooling teach them to be complex, articulate and unaffectedly sophisticated while they learn to put on their clothing and makeup in equally painstaking stages. Gallagher illustrates the latter with multiple see-through vellum sections detailing each stratum of ornament, clothing article and makeup, allowing readers to grasp the inordinate amount of attention that geishas must put into their appearance. The rest of the book's photos and illustrations are frequently stunning, combining historical images and artwork with vibrantly hued, more recent photos. Because of its heft and very visual style, Gallagher's work will likely find itself classified as a coffee-table book, but anyone who merely flips through will be missing out. Gallagher's writing style is straightforward and articulate, with so much intelligence and grace, it's difficult not to be charmed.
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About the Author

Born in London, John Gallagher grew up in Ireland, and is currently resident in Japan as a writer and translator. He holds a BA in History and English Literature from the National University of Ireland, and an MA in Translation Studies from Dublin City University. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: PRC Publishing (October 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856486974
• ISBN-13: 978-1856486972
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many errors, September 24, 2005

By 

PETER MACINTOSH "pmac in kyoto" (KYOTO, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art (Hardcover)

A Unique World Of Tradition, Elegance and Art
by John Gallagher

Book review

Photo Caption Mistakes

1. Intro 11
Photo of plain clothed Maiko described as just normal Japanese women

2. Intro 19
"Finely dressed Maiko" is wrong! Just a tourist dressed as a Maiko.

3. Transparent pictures of maiko dressing procedure section
Fully dressed page: There is no dangling floral ornament on the crown of her head and the under color is not embroiled red and white.
Next page: There is no separate embroidered color put on above the Naga-Jyuban.
Third page: Usually the Hada-Jyuban top is red and white, not plain white.

4. Page 59
Not picture of Geisha Amusement Restaurant (This restaurant is called `Yagenbori' and it is mentioned many times through out the book as being a tea house. However, it is just a tourist restaurant.

5. Page 61
It is Not a picture of Onnagata as stated.

6. Page 63
This is not a Noh theater, but geisha performing at their annual dance.

7. Page 69
It is two Geiko, one is playing a male role and the other is playing a female role. Not a `Geiko and younger Maiko'.

8. Transparent geisha dressing images
Page 1: The Geisha's wig red ribbon should not be there and no dangling ornaments either. The collar is embroiled but should be plain white silk and the comment above going bald on the crown because of the wig. However sometimes Maiko develop a bold spot because of her hair style.

9. Page 83
`Maiko in Kyoto' is wrong. These are just tourists dressed up.

10. Page 93
`Geisha in garden' is not a geisha but a just a Japanese woman.

11. Page 136
A `Maiko' is just a tourist dressed up.

12. Page 137
"Maiko in Kyoto' is wrong. These are just tourists dressed up.

13. Page 139
`A Tayu of Shimabara' is wrong. This woman is dressed as `Oiran' from Yoshiwara. You can tell it because of the way of her Obi is tied.

14. Page 142
This not a Maiko. But she is ???who knows?

15. Page 145
Probably not the back back of Geisha.

16. Page 147
She is not a Maiko but just a tourist. And the word `Hikizuke' in the caption should be `Hikizuri'.

17. Page 149
`Caption Maiko in full regalia' is just a tourist dressed up: Look at the wig.

18. Photos on Page 152 & 153
These are not labeled Maiko or Geiko but we are led to believe that they are.

19. Transparent Picture after page 160
1st image: The geisha, when wearing her white make-up should be wearing Susohiki kimono with either the hem of Kimono down or tied up.

20. Page 172
`A Geisha' is really a Maiko.

21 Bottom Photo. Page 180
`Dignitaries' are just a regular visitors to the cherry blossom dance performance. Nakai" ÅeProfessional Hanamachi insiders?????"These are just young girls working part time.

22. Page 183
`A tea house in Gion' This is just a normal Japanese restaurant named `Yata', not a Tea house.

23. Transparent pictures after page 184
The kimono in the image Not right Kimono for three lines left unpainted (sanbon ashi) on the back of the neck

24. Page 197
`A tea house in Gion' This is Yagenbori. It is just a Japanese restaurant (see error #4).

25. Page 198
`Ochaya-Tea House' This too, is Yagenbori (see error #4 and #24)

26. Page 210
`Geisha' This is a Maiko

27. Page 212
`A Maiko in full attire' This is just a tourist dressed up. She is wearing a wig.

28. Page 213, Top photo
This is just a tourist dressed up, not a Maiko.

29. Page 216
`These Maiko' are just three women dressed up as Maiko, not a real Maiko.

30. Page 218
`Maiko' Just a tourist dressed as Maiko.
`Hikizure' should be `Hikizuri'

31. Page 221
`Geisha wearing a formal hair dress' This is just a tourist dressed up.

32. Page 222
`Maiko' Just a tourist dressed up.

33. Page 227
The reason the Maiko is wearing a Yukata is because she is being photographed. She is not intending to wear it out for an engagement.

34. Page 229
`Maiko taking a photo' This is not a Maiko, she is wearing a wig.

35. Page 234
`Two Maikos' The two are just tourists dressed as Maiko.

I think this book was a good effort to put out an abundance information about geisha and traditional Japanese culture.
I found the text quite informative and well researched. However, with 35 plus caption error, it shows us that the author was early researcher translating Japanese information into English and rewriting English information already out there in his easy to read and fluent writing style.
Unfortunately, because of the amount of the errors in the captions, we find out or must come to the conclusion that the author is either very careless or really wasn't writing from any personal experiences (probably the latter).

I almost forgot. This book is very inexpensive for a hardcover with so
many color photos and pages.

P.S. Sorry if their are mistakes in grammar and spelling in this review.

Peter MacIntosh
www.kyotosightsnadnights.com
www.PeterMacintosh.com

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book (and very inexpensive, too), October 14, 2005

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art (Hardcover)

In 1997, Arthur Golden's best-selling _Memoirs of a Geisha_ caused a minor boom in interest about the "world of flowers and willows." Gallagher is a professional translator living in Tokyo and his obvious knowledge both of Japanese political and social history and of the geisha tradition itself make him an excellent go-between in explaining it all to western readers. He goes to considerable lengths to disabuse the ignorant of the assumption that geisha are courtesans, or that there is any serious comparison between the entertainments of bar hostesses and of geisha. (The former, he says, are like renting a cheap compact car to take a weekend jaunt to an amusement park; the latter are like journeying in a hand-gilded coach with footmen to a grand banquet.) What tourists used to see, until very recently, was laid on specially for them, since the network of geisha houses, teahouses, fabric-sellers, kimono-makers, and other associated craftsmen and service-providers that make up the hanamachi district in any city -- and every town and city has one, or did have -- is basically closed to outsiders. "No new faces" is the rule. The geisha themselves and their clients are two halves of the same culture, and very few modern Japanese have any knowledge or even any interest in the old ways. So the geisha tradition is dying. In the mid-1950s, some 40,000 geisha were active in Japan; by the mid-1970s, that was down to about 17,000. At the turn of the new century, there are fewer than 5,000 in the whole country, and fewer than 200 in Kyoto itself, where the whole thing began. It's a shame to think the whole geisha world will probably, inevitably, soon be extinct. This is a beautiful as well as very informative volume, with detailed color photos depicting the differences between the gorgeously colorful maiko (trainees) and the more sedate senior geisha, and with numerous historical paintings and engravings showing the development of geisha costume and relating geisha to a number of key events in the past several centuries of Japanese history. Anyone with an interest in Japanese life and culture definitely should find a copy.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing resource, June 20, 2004

By 

Shannon "elflass" (Flower Mound, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art (Hardcover)

I had never seen this book physically when I ordered it and was very pleased when it arrived on my doorstep. This hefty volume is a wealth of information, even for those who have already studied geisha culture and know a good deal of the terminology, ceremonies and details of the unique way of life and its related artistic and historical implications. I can't imagine a more detailed factual research source on the subject; this book really has it all. There is also an array of photographs of maiko and geiko in their respective regalia partaking in the business, artistic as well as personal aspects of their lives.

One of the most unique elements of the book is the inclusion of the sections of translucent vellum paper, which reveal the layers of a kimono ensemble and the progressive steps involved in the making-up of a geisha's face. This creative idea made for an interesting addition to an already fine book.

If I had to choose two resources on geisha culture to introduce an unfamiliar party with the subject, I would select _Geisha_ by Liza Dalby for her thoughtful, personal story told through a discerning anthropologist's eye, and _Geisha: a Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art_ for its comprehensive, detailed but more objective view of the subject. The information they encompass brings a mysterious, insular world into clear focus for the curious and eager-to-learn outsider.