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Linh Pham
UWRT 1102
Professor Grants
3 February 2015

The Geisha, The Girl, and The Society

My obsession with Japanese culture started in the fourth grade when my cousin
introduced me manga, such as; Asari, Sakura: The Cardcaptor and Case Closed. I became
captivated by the Japanese culture and beauty, the one important thing that I learned to love
about Japanese manga is that the heroines are always independent and clever. As my love for
manga and Japanese anime continued grow, I begain to fall in love with Japanese culture. I
become curious and I start to research different aspect of this beautiful nation. Overtime, I
discovered that the Japanese are unique because they are the perfect blend of modern and
tradition. They have so much respect and value for their history and past, compared to Western
countries or other Asian countries. The amount of dedication of retaining the past by the younger
generation is inspiring. I guess it is nothing to be so amazed by, but the fact that I am so used to
meeting people who are the same age as me without ambitions or goals make the idea of
dedication fascinating. One aspect that could essentially portray a culture is art.
Most of the time, when I hear about art, I would only think about a picture with some
kind of significant meaning and values that is presented in a museum. Visitors would come and
pay their pilgrimage to the wonder of the artwork, and afterward they can purchase a cheaper
copy of that particular picture. In Japan, art is highly valued and priced. They also have cheap
copies that can be sold souvenirs. However, there is one particular art that can never be sold at a
low price. In fact it is so expensive, that it is considered priceless. It is so timeless that in order to

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accomplish this piece of art, it would take a talented person a lifetime to perfect. This art is
known as the Living Arts. They are artisans, chefs, teachers, musicians, and entertainers. The
term Living Arts essentially describe their ability to perform and present their talents. Their
products and values are one of a kind, meaning there can never be another person who can do
what they do. These Living Arts spend their whole life practicing, and essentially married to their
work. A marriage can only happen through dedication, passion, commitment and love. These
Living Arts start their career at a very young age. Most of them would train under a sensei or
teacher. They practice self-discipline, turning themselves away from distraction and focusing on
their work. The most interesting Living Art that recently gained my interest is the geisha.
My love for geisha is more of an admiration, they are beautiful and graceful. Young
women living independently away from their family. They are considered the Guardians of the
Japanese tradition because they possess skills that have been passed on for generations. The
process of becoming a geisha required years of dance practice, playing traditional instruments
and elegantly compose their outer appearance. They are strikingly beautiful despite the fact that
their faces are painted white. The most important aspect that set geishas apart from each other is
their ability to communicate. They are the Living Arts, and they are priceless, and they carry
themselves in such a way that everyone would know that they are are priceless.
There are so many things about them that intrigues me and make me questions my own
life. In order to become a geisha, a girl must start her training at the age of fifteen. She must
leave her family and friends to go to Kyoto, where she would spend five years to be a trainee, ten
years to become a geisha and the rest of her life being a geisha. What does this have to do with
me? Well this led me to think about two things, the idea of feminism and the standard of beauty.

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Western standard of beauty is completely different from Asian standard of beauty. The
perfect female image is Barbies big boobs, small waist and skinny body. Whereas Asian beauty
standard generally are based on both outer appearance the heart. Asians have a saying that if a
girl have a pretty face but an ugly hurt, she is still considered an ugly girl. Girls have to be wellrounded, talented, graceful, skillful, soft spoken and intelligent. Yes, having a pretty face and a
brain is highly valued in Asian society. Now I am not saying that Western beauty standard
doesnt value the same thing, but Asian society follow the standards so strictly that it could be
considered extreme. My dad told me that I must be a well-rounded girl, meaning I have to learn
how to cook and to sew if I want to get married. Nowaday, things like that would be considered
traditional, but it is often overlooked that girls should be well-rounded.
Last is the idea of feminism, which could go both way since geishas are clever but they
are also trained to be submissive. Does grace and elegant have to fail at the end of the day to gain
women respect? What is the big deal with being tough and men hating nowaday? But then if I
chose to be submissive and lady-like, does that mean I am not representing my gender? Asian
girls in particular face tough critics from their parents. They are encouraged to be a wellrounded, talent and graceful, which is not hard to become; however, it also discourage
individuality of a person. Although it is hard for me to admit this, but girls are being shaped to
become mans wife. Ever since we were young, our mothers taught us that we should never raise
our voice or show our anger. When we are older and enter school, we were taught how to have
proper manners, along the way we gain our education. And after four years of college, we would
finally settle down with our partners. Despite having an education, if the wife would be the one
who would have to give up their career for their spouse and children. I understand that it is a
valid thing to do, but why the sacrifice? I guess I could be considered selfish for only thinking

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about myself, but an educated woman could support her family as well as a man could. Geishas
are their own boss since they can support themselves without family obligations. As part of the
job, they have the opportunity to further educate themselves. Even though they have to be
submissive, geisha still maintain their pride as an artist and as a woman.